Damage Assessment on Wood River Explosion

From Midwest Media By Melanie

(WOOD RIVER, Neb.) — Director of Emergency Management Hall County/Grand Island Jon Rosenlund spoke with me in Wood River after the home explosion that took one life and caused not only the destruction of his home but severe damage to several homes nearby. This week he revealed the estimated damage and loss to officials.

I reached out to the Emergency Management office Wednesday morning for a list of estimates. Here is the list from Director Rosenlund:

The March 2 Wood River house explosion caused $1.8 million damage to eight businesses and $1.7 million damage to 39 homes.

Concerning impact on humans:
one fatality
one person injured
16 people evacuated
14 people sheltered
14 people displaced.

Two public buildings sustained $240,000 in damage.

Of the homes affected:
Two were destroyed, cost: $300,000
Eight sustained major damage, cost: $814,940
Nine had minor damage, cost: $491,545
20 other homes were affected, cost $109,540

For public buildings:
Wood River Elementary School, $200,000 in damage
Wood River City Hall, $40,000 in damage
Wood River Library to be determined

Agencies that responded to the explosion:

• Wood River Fire & Rescue Dept.
• City of Wood River
• Shelton Fire Department
• Alda Fire Department
• Grand Island Rural Fire Department
• Hall County Sheriff
• Nebraska Fire Marshal
• Cairo Fire Department
• Dannebrog Fire Department
• Wood River Schools
• Grand Island Emergency Center, Hall County Emergency Management
• Hall County CERT
• Hall County Building Department
• American Red Cross