Hutchinson Kansas Situation, This is too Weird. - Page 2

The_Grand_Illusion · 01-18-2001, 12:51 PM

Explosion rocks downtown Hutchinson.

[url]http://www.msnbc.com/local/ksnw/167732.asp[/url]

This is too weird. This whole town is on pins and needles. It started yesterday morning with a huge explosion downtown. The fire still has not gone out. I went there last night and talked to a police officer and he told me that they shut off all possible gas lines and it still won't go out. They do not know what is feeding it. This morning there was another explosion about six blocks from where I live. There is at least 8 natural gas leaks all around the city. I grabbed some things and am waiting this out at my shop right now. They have evacuated by my house. I sent my family to the north side of the city. This is too weird. Has anyone else ever heard of anything like this? Hutchinson is built on salt mines. Makes you wonder if natural gas has built up in them. The National Guard is getting ready to be called out. They are not sure if they need to evacuate the whole town. There is somewhere around 30,000+ people here.

Dan

I will keep you all posted as I can.

ROYC75 · 01-19-2001, 03:22 PM

Dan

Sorry to here that,take care of yourself !

Mark M · 01-19-2001, 03:26 PM

TGI--
Tell them that everyone here (or at least, most of us here) are thinking of them. And good luck, be safe.

MM
~~Really doesn't know what to type ... this thing is just plain spooky.

ct · 01-19-2001, 04:01 PM

Maybe it's just me, but if i were told that mega millions of cubic feet of explosive natural gas were floating under my hometown, with the potential to bubble up and explode at anywhere at anytime...I'm thinking it's a good time for a vacation!!

Sorry, that sounds incredibly insensitive, but I HAD to say it. I live in Wichita, and have been keeping my eye on this deal. [b]Many[/b] circumstances of this make me uncomfortable, the first of which is the underground storage vaults. Pretty hokie idea to begin with, IMHO.
Obvious concerns for the citizens of Hutch and surrounding area. I read a quote in one article that several folks were in a restaurant of some sort, and a very loud heater kicked on, and there was a noticeable flinch from everyone in the room. [b]JUST CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MUCH THAT WOULD SUCK!!![/b]

Oh, and can't forget, KGE is charging us more than twice the price of natural gas as last Jan. already, how much will they jack us on this one, when [b]THEY'RE PISS POOR STORAGE FACILITIES ARE THE FRICKIN CULPRIT TO BEGIN WITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/b]

ct
ok...im done

Frazod · 01-19-2001, 04:39 PM

This story made the local news in Chicago - what a hellish scene. I hope they get this under control and no one else gets hurt.

The_Grand_Illusion · 01-19-2001, 07:40 PM

All,

Thanks for the support. Yeah Cory I thought about leaving last night after finding out how much gas is escaping under the city. I hope the officials know what they are doing. Some of my neighbors did leave town. For most of the city it was business as usual but this situation was on everyones mind. The equipment arrived tonight to try to fix the leak in the underground storage facility. They think they will have it fixed by morning.

Dan

milkman · 01-20-2001, 08:46 AM

I hope everything works out for you and the city.
Be safe.

The_Grand_Illusion · 01-20-2001, 01:02 PM

Thanks Milkman,

I just listened to the latest press conference. The first two attempts to plug the leak were unsuccessful. We have to wait untill a different size plug can be located. Another good size plume of gas was discovered south of the city west of the prison last night. There is an army of gas service personel here. Many are going door to door looking for gas leaks with sniffers. That's a little reassuring.

Dan

KCWolfman · 01-20-2001, 04:12 PM

Illusion - God Bless you and yours.

AJKCFAN · 01-21-2001, 01:44 AM

Grand Illusion:

I can't even imagine how crazy and scary it is to be living in Hutchinson right now.

Hopefully, this plug they're sending in from Texas will choke off the gas and help return things to normal.

If this succeeds, will the problem be solved? Or will this gas "volcano" still be a dangerous concern?

My best wishes to you and everyone in Hutchinson...

The_Grand_Illusion · 01-21-2001, 12:46 PM

Thanks KCWolfman, AJKCFAN, and All for your thoughts, concerns and prayers. It is very much appreciated.

Four plugs from Houston just arrived so they can make more attempts to seal the leak. They continue to drill vents around the city to help let the gas escape. It will take a little while for the crews to get them up and running. Cargill Salt plant was evacuated yesterday as several gas plumes were discovered near there. It has been fairly calm the last couple of days. Many precautions are being taken. Transfering some of the natural gas out of that storage facility has taken some of the pressure off of the gas plumes.

AJKCFAN,

Makes you wonder with all the salt caverns under the city what will happen in the future. They are flying in many Geologist and other experts to try to map out where the gas could remain.

I'm headed to Wichita to get away for the rest of the day. Thanks again everyone.

Dan

The_Grand_Illusion · 01-21-2001, 10:47 PM

Officials Hope Gas Leak Plug Works

[url]http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010121/us/gas_geysers_12.html[/url]

Hopefully we are half way there.

Dan

AJKCFAN · 01-21-2001, 11:10 PM

Dan:

That's great news. Does this definitely mean that the gas leak is now unable to burst through and into the air? That was quite an explosion of energy produced by that gas leak. That plug has quite a battle on its hands...

What are they saying about the immediate and long-term health dangers about the air in Hutchinson? Are the gas levels ridiculously high? How possible is it for someone traveling Highway 50 or Highway 61 to throw out a cigarette bud and igniting another explosion?

Schools over there are still cancelled?

The news covering this has started to die so you're becoming the on-the-spot reporter about this, like Peter Arnett & Bernard Shaw in Baghdad...

Stay safe and well.

P.S. Hutchinson is Chiefs country, right? Or is it also Broncos country too?

CASHMAN · 01-22-2001, 12:37 AM

i have a friend who runs a store in the mall there and he called and said they were closeing them down the other day. and sounds bad so i send my prayers and thoughts to him and all the others there as well.

scooter · 01-22-2001, 09:28 AM

Update,

The leak at the storage facility has been plugged as of last night, but the view from my desk (one block north of the original explosion) shows that the flames really haven't diminished that I can tell. It is smaller than it was last Thursday, but that is due more to the vent holes that have been drilled than anything, I would guess. There is still probably tons of natural gas under the city. The news keeps prefacing stories about the leak saying "If this was the only source feeding the gas", which is kind of unnerving. Schools are back in session today.

scooter

The_Grand_Illusion · 01-22-2001, 03:03 PM

Yeah Scooter I saw the noon news and the fire downtown does not look like it has diminished much.

AJ,

There is so many questions at this point. Kansas Gas Service continues to moniter the town with sniffers. Now that the plug is in place they can slide another tube down the well and repair the leak. I don't think that many of the people here were aware that billions of cubic feet of gas were stored near the city. Makes you wonder about this natural gas shortage. Yes, there are many Chiefs fans in this area. There is also some misplaced Bronco fans too. :D

Dan

01-19-2001, 03:22 PM	#16
ROYC75 Time For Your Wake Up Call !!! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Barn Yard Casino cash: $2327400	Dan Sorry to here that,take care of yourself ! __________________ Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it. John Lennon
Posts: 37,934

01-19-2001, 03:26 PM	#17
Mark M What time is it? Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: You tell me ... Casino cash: $9884900	TGI-- Tell them that everyone here (or at least, most of us here) are thinking of them. And good luck, be safe. MM ~~Really doesn't know what to type ... this thing is just plain spooky. __________________ ChiefsPlanet -- n. The place where brilliant minds assemble to willfully pool ignorance with questionable logic in order to reach absurd conclusions.
Posts: 4,687

01-19-2001, 04:01 PM	#18
ct u b illian Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: DooDah Casino cash: $10009436	Maybe it's just me, but if i were told that mega millions of cubic feet of explosive natural gas were floating under my hometown, with the potential to bubble up and explode at anywhere at anytime...I'm thinking it's a good time for a vacation!! Sorry, that sounds incredibly insensitive, but I HAD to say it. I live in Wichita, and have been keeping my eye on this deal. [b]Many[/b] circumstances of this make me uncomfortable, the first of which is the underground storage vaults. Pretty hokie idea to begin with, IMHO. Obvious concerns for the citizens of Hutch and surrounding area. I read a quote in one article that several folks were in a restaurant of some sort, and a very loud heater kicked on, and there was a noticeable flinch from everyone in the room. [b]JUST CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MUCH THAT WOULD SUCK!!![/b] Oh, and can't forget, KGE is charging us more than twice the price of natural gas as last Jan. already, how much will they jack us on this one, when [b]THEY'RE PISS POOR STORAGE FACILITIES ARE THE FRICKIN CULPRIT TO BEGIN WITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/b] ct ok...im done
Posts: 7,287

01-19-2001, 04:39 PM	#19
Frazod Did you hear what I said? Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-556615	This story made the local news in Chicago - what a hellish scene. I hope they get this under control and no one else gets hurt.
Posts: 121,709

01-19-2001, 07:40 PM	#20
The_Grand_Illusion Veteran Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Ad Astra Per Aspera Casino cash: $10004900	All, Thanks for the support. Yeah Cory I thought about leaving last night after finding out how much gas is escaping under the city. I hope the officials know what they are doing. Some of my neighbors did leave town. For most of the city it was business as usual but this situation was on everyones mind. The equipment arrived tonight to try to fix the leak in the underground storage facility. They think they will have it fixed by morning. Dan
Posts: 1,489

01-18-2001, 12:51 PM
The_Grand_Illusion Veteran Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Ad Astra Per Aspera Casino cash: $10004900	Explosion rocks downtown Hutchinson. [url]http://www.msnbc.com/local/ksnw/167732.asp[/url] This is too weird. This whole town is on pins and needles. It started yesterday morning with a huge explosion downtown. The fire still has not gone out. I went there last night and talked to a police officer and he told me that they shut off all possible gas lines and it still won't go out. They do not know what is feeding it. This morning there was another explosion about six blocks from where I live. There is at least 8 natural gas leaks all around the city. I grabbed some things and am waiting this out at my shop right now. They have evacuated by my house. I sent my family to the north side of the city. This is too weird. Has anyone else ever heard of anything like this? Hutchinson is built on salt mines. Makes you wonder if natural gas has built up in them. The National Guard is getting ready to be called out. They are not sure if they need to evacuate the whole town. There is somewhere around 30,000+ people here. Dan I will keep you all posted as I can.
Posts: 1,489

01-20-2001, 08:46 AM	#21
milkman Dumbass! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Leading the Marty bashing Casino cash: $10029395	I hope everything works out for you and the city. Be safe. __________________
Posts: 70,769

01-20-2001, 01:02 PM	#22
The_Grand_Illusion Veteran Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Ad Astra Per Aspera Casino cash: $10004900	Thanks Milkman, I just listened to the latest press conference. The first two attempts to plug the leak were unsuccessful. We have to wait untill a different size plug can be located. Another good size plume of gas was discovered south of the city west of the prison last night. There is an army of gas service personel here. Many are going door to door looking for gas leaks with sniffers. That's a little reassuring. Dan
Posts: 1,489

01-20-2001, 04:12 PM	#23
KCWolfman Fall down 7 times, get up 8 Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10004900	Illusion - God Bless you and yours.
Posts: 15,474

01-21-2001, 01:44 AM	#24
AJKCFAN Head Chief, Esq. Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: New York Casino cash: $-1218202	Grand Illusion: I can't even imagine how crazy and scary it is to be living in Hutchinson right now. Hopefully, this plug they're sending in from Texas will choke off the gas and help return things to normal. If this succeeds, will the problem be solved? Or will this gas "volcano" still be a dangerous concern? My best wishes to you and everyone in Hutchinson...
Posts: 928

01-21-2001, 12:46 PM	#25
The_Grand_Illusion Veteran Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Ad Astra Per Aspera Casino cash: $10004900	Thanks KCWolfman, AJKCFAN, and All for your thoughts, concerns and prayers. It is very much appreciated. Four plugs from Houston just arrived so they can make more attempts to seal the leak. They continue to drill vents around the city to help let the gas escape. It will take a little while for the crews to get them up and running. Cargill Salt plant was evacuated yesterday as several gas plumes were discovered near there. It has been fairly calm the last couple of days. Many precautions are being taken. Transfering some of the natural gas out of that storage facility has taken some of the pressure off of the gas plumes. AJKCFAN, Makes you wonder with all the salt caverns under the city what will happen in the future. They are flying in many Geologist and other experts to try to map out where the gas could remain. I'm headed to Wichita to get away for the rest of the day. Thanks again everyone. Dan
Posts: 1,489

01-21-2001, 10:47 PM	#26
The_Grand_Illusion Veteran Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Ad Astra Per Aspera Casino cash: $10004900	Officials Hope Gas Leak Plug Works [url]http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010121/us/gas_geysers_12.html[/url] Hopefully we are half way there. Dan
Posts: 1,489

01-21-2001, 11:10 PM	#27
AJKCFAN Head Chief, Esq. Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: New York Casino cash: $-1218202	Dan: That's great news. Does this definitely mean that the gas leak is now unable to burst through and into the air? That was quite an explosion of energy produced by that gas leak. That plug has quite a battle on its hands... What are they saying about the immediate and long-term health dangers about the air in Hutchinson? Are the gas levels ridiculously high? How possible is it for someone traveling Highway 50 or Highway 61 to throw out a cigarette bud and igniting another explosion? Schools over there are still cancelled? The news covering this has started to die so you're becoming the on-the-spot reporter about this, like Peter Arnett & Bernard Shaw in Baghdad... Stay safe and well. P.S. Hutchinson is Chiefs country, right? Or is it also Broncos country too?
Posts: 928

01-22-2001, 12:37 AM	#28
CASHMAN ERNIE-New CHIEFS FAN!!!!!!! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: OVERLAND PARK KS. Casino cash: $10004900	i have a friend who runs a store in the mall there and he called and said they were closeing them down the other day. and sounds bad so i send my prayers and thoughts to him and all the others there as well.
Posts: 1,856

01-22-2001, 09:28 AM	#29
scooter Starter Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $9994900	Update, The leak at the storage facility has been plugged as of last night, but the view from my desk (one block north of the original explosion) shows that the flames really haven't diminished that I can tell. It is smaller than it was last Thursday, but that is due more to the vent holes that have been drilled than anything, I would guess. There is still probably tons of natural gas under the city. The news keeps prefacing stories about the leak saying "If this was the only source feeding the gas", which is kind of unnerving. Schools are back in session today. scooter
Posts: 472

01-22-2001, 03:03 PM	#30
The_Grand_Illusion Veteran Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Ad Astra Per Aspera Casino cash: $10004900	Yeah Scooter I saw the noon news and the fire downtown does not look like it has diminished much. AJ, There is so many questions at this point. Kansas Gas Service continues to moniter the town with sniffers. Now that the plug is in place they can slide another tube down the well and repair the leak. I don't think that many of the people here were aware that billions of cubic feet of gas were stored near the city. Makes you wonder about this natural gas shortage. Yes, there are many Chiefs fans in this area. There is also some misplaced Bronco fans too. :D Dan
Posts: 1,489