Hutchinson Kansas Situation, This is too Weird.

[The_Grand_Illusion]

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.

[Mark M]

Holy fucking shit!!! :eek:

I missed the news last night, so this is the first I've heard of it. Sounds like they have a few pockets of methane built up around town.

If the town has to be evacuated, what are they going to do with 30,000 people?

MM
~~Thinks this is too bizarre ...

[The_Grand_Illusion]

Thanks Mark for the offer. It is a very strange situation. The local TV in Wichita is still on the story. Quite a few schools have been evacuated as well as parts of the city. Two people were lifewatched to Wichita this morning from the last explosion. This is the third explosion in four days. The new Hampton Inn they were building exploded early monday morning. They still don't know what caused that one. Then they had the big explosion yesterday. Once again, thanks for your concern.

Dan

[Mark M]

Not a problem. I removed the offer to stay at my place from my post because I figured you wouldn't want to come out all of the way to east bumblefuck Independence! Hell, I barely want to drive to work in Mission! But if you're in a bind, e-mail me at tke919@yahoo.com and give me a number where I can reach you. I'll help any way I can.

MM
~~Willing to give a helping hand to a fellow Chiefs fan.

[scooter]

I work in Hutch in the Bank of America building on 2nd and Washington. As I sit here I can see the fire burning from the Decor Party store. Freaky is RIGHT.

[DJay23]

This is scary. I have family in Hutchinson (apparently Chiefs fan family too)so this sounds particularly scary.

I will tell you from my schooling in science that naturally occurring "salt domes" are associated with large stores of oil. That is how oil in the Gulf of Mexico is found, to find one of these salt domes. Now if there is a naturally occurring salt mine there in the Hutchinson/Witchita area it wouldn't surprise me if some petroleum was associated with this. Even though these are typically associated with warm seas, I can tell you that an intercontinental seaway used to run straight through the Midwestern U.S. and Canada. A very long time ago. I don't know for sure if this has caused the explosions there, it was just my immediate thought when I read the part about salt mines.

Please don't hang hang around in an unstable area folks, I want to continue talking Chiefs football with all of us.

[The_Grand_Illusion]

Scooter,

Have you been listening to what is happening around town? Now they have discovered quite a few sink holes north of Sirloin Stockade. They are not sure if it is related to everything else.

Dan

[scooter]

G_I,
I've been listening at work. I just watched the news conference at 3:30. Did you see it?

[The_Grand_Illusion]

Scooter,

Yes I heard it. Kind of scary huh?

DJ, All,

According to a press conference, they are speculating that a big underground natural gas storage facility northwest of Hutchinson has leaked into the water table and is coming up throughout the city. They have found about 15 leaks so far. They apparently have slowed the leak. Anyone know how long would it take to evaporate out of the system?

Dan


[Edited by The_Grand_Illusion on 01-18-2001 at 09:53 PM]

[gonzo88]

This is pretty weird. I actually grew up in Hutchinson. Exactly what part of town is this happening in ?

[The_Grand_Illusion]

Gonzo, things are happening all over town. Here is the latest.

CBS.com--Hutchinson Waits

[url]http://www.kwch.com/now/story/0,1597,265219-388,00.shtml [/url]

Dan

[The_Grand_Illusion]

Gonzo, here is more from CNN and Yahoo.

CNN.com - Possible gas explosion prompts evacuations in central Kansas

[url]http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/01/18/kansas.explosions/index.html[/url]

3 Hurt in Kansas Gas Geyser Blast

[url]http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010118/us/gas_geysers_2.html[/url]

TGI


[Edited by The_Grand_Illusion on 01-18-2001 at 11:14 PM]

[The_Grand_Illusion]

Man Dies From Gas Geyser Eruption

[url]http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010119/us/gas_geysers_5.html[/url]

He was a friend of the family. My thoughts and prayers go out his wife, who was also injured, and his family.

Dan

[morphius]

TGI - Sorry to hear about your loss. Are things starting to calm down or are things still going up?

[The_Grand_Illusion]

Thanks Morph,

The sad thing is that these gas leaks can spring up anywhere in the city. Haven't heard much today. All schools are closed as a precaution. The downtown fire is still going. So far it has been quiet around town. They have barricades and the National Guard a block from my house. They are suppose to try to fix the leak in that huge gas storage facility northwest of the city. Kansas Gas Service is going to drill vents all around the city to help let the gas escape and ease the pressure. Hopefully we will get the all clear in the next few days.

Dan