Wood River Mayor Greg Cramer (left) and Hall County Building Inspector Ryan Grubbs talk to Hall County Commissioners March 12 about a March 2 house explosion in Wood River, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND — Grand Island-Hall County Emergency Management Director Jon Rosenlund said Tuesday, March 12, that a March 2 Wood River house explosion caused $1.8 million damage to eight businesses and $1.7 million damage to 39 homes.
Rosenlund reported statistics to the Hall County Board of Commissioners at their March 12 meeting.
Concerning impact on humans, there was one fatality, one person injured, 16 people evacuated, 14 people sheltered, and 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 had $200,000 in damage, Wood River City Hall had $40,000 in damage, and damage to the Wood River Library was to be determined.
Agencies that responded to the explosion were the Wood River Fire Department, 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, and American Red Cross.
