Residents in the small town of Lake Wilson, Minnesota, continue to clean up after an explosion rocked their town late Monday night. They woke up Tuesday morning to a much different Main Street, and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty toured the damage Tuesday afternoon.
Electricity was finally been restored to Lake Wilson late Tuesday after being without it since the explosion at 11:15 Monday night. Debris could be seen blocks away and nearly every window on Main Street in Lake Wilson was shattered. Joyce Elliott recalls the moment of the blast, "I had just gotten to bed and all of a sudden I heard this big bang." But Elliott wasn't even close to the blast. She lives 19 miles away from Lake Wilson.
The feeling throughout the small town is shock. "I thought it was an earthquake," comments Tom Somers, a Lake Wilson resident. He lives just a block from the fire hall and was one of the first to see the destruction. "People are all going up and looking at all their windows (that) were blown out," he explains, "the debris was all over the place, and we're wondering what the heck caused it." Fire investigators are also wondering what caused it as they search for clues, but they think a propane tank is to blame for the blast.
Many in town and from the surrounding area got a look at the scene Tuesday, and helped any way they could. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty arrived Tuesday afternoon. "First and foremost we're thankful that no one got hurt," Governor Pawlenty says, "Second of all, for a small town it's a lot of damage. It's going to be a big job to get it back on its feet. But I'm confident it will get back on its feet."
Pawlenty described the damage as "jaw dropping" as he toured the site, talking with residents. "We have neighbors helping neighbors, the state agencies are here helping to lead the effort, the city leaders are on the job and the cleanup is underway. We're going do a damage assessment, and an insurance assessment and as with all these crisis, Minnesotans will rally around and help out and we'll get this community back on its feet."
No serious injuries were reported in the blast, but a little girl who lived with her mother less than a block from the blast did suffer a small cut to her face from flying glass.
Lake Wilson is no stranger to tragedy. In 1992 a tornado tore through destroying nearly half the town.
The town will hold an informational meeting at two Wednesday afternoon.
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