Bucksnort, TN - Imagine what must be going through the minds of families living within a 20-mile radius of the AES (Accurate Energetic Systems) explosion site. It’s been more than 48 hours since the blast, yet the nightmare continues. You still remember the way your bed shook—like an earthquake—though you were miles away. You felt it. You heard it. And now, you’re hearing it again.

On Sunday morning (10/12/2025), residents were warned that specialists would be detonating live munitions scattered across the impact zone. The Humphreys County Emergency Management Agency issued a statement to WGNS and other media outlets: “Controlled detonations will be conducted periodically at the site throughout the day to safely dispose of unstable or hazardous materials. Nearby residents may see black smoke and hear or feel the detonations as they occur.

For many, those words weren’t just safety notice—they were a trigger. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that symptoms of PTSD can begin within days of a traumatic event. For those already shaken by Friday’s explosion, Sunday’s blasts were a cruel echo. The sound, the tremor, the smoke, it all came rushing back.

Sixteen lives were lost instantly in Friday's (10/10/2025) explosion. Officials confirmed that all 16 who were inside the building at that time are presumed dead. Two individuals initially listed as missing were later found safe, but the grief remains overwhelming.

Investigators are now working to recover remains and gather evidence, racing against time and the elements. Rain, wind, and heat threaten to degrade critical traces—chemical residues, fragments, biological markers. That’s why undetonated explosives must be found and detonated so that investigators can safely search the AES' campus.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has deployed a rapid DNA team to assist in identifying remains. It’s a painstaking process, expected to take weeks due to the hazardous conditions. Meanwhile, federal agencies including the ATF and FBI are on-site, searching for answers and trying to determine whether this tragedy could have been prevented.

To support the grieving, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is on-site and offering spiritual care and counseling to families and emergency crews.

“We’re here to support those who were working in the plant, their loved ones, and anyone affected by this tragedy,” said Josh Holland, international director of the BG-RRT.

AES has opened a Family Assistance Center, and the TBI has activated a missing person’s hotline at 1-800-TBI-FIND. Officials continue to urge the public to avoid the area and report any debris to local authorities for safe handling.

The community is still reeling. The ground may have stopped shaking, but the emotional aftershocks are far from over.