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A nearby, early-morning collision between two Canadian Pacific freight trains, which ruptured a 1,000 gallon propane tank, prompted the evacuation of Mosher’s 24 residents just after 9 a.m. The men spent the day in a church basement in La Crescent, Minn., where they watched movies, visited with church staff and received a visit from Santa Claus, before being allowed to return to Dresbach on Wednesday night.
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Otto Young, 76, left, and John Pochowicz, board a bus Wednesday after a propane leak, caused by a train collision earlier in the morning, resulted in the evacuation of the Mosher Veterans Home in Dresbach. Residents of the veterans home, located across Highway 61 from the collision site, were taken to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in La Crescent for the day until authorities deemed it safe for them to return.
(Photo by Melissa Carlo/Winona Daily News)
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Many of the men awoke Wednesday morning with no plans for their day beside an afternoon Christmas party, they said, which was also one of the few items on owner Carolyn Hafner’s schedule. That all changed when she received an early morning phone call ordering the evacuation. Officials were concerned that fumes from the ruptured propane tank were being blown in the direction of Mosher.
Hafner and Kirk Malgren, the home’s manager, raced to prepare their residents for a quick departure. Staff members helped themen pack their bags, including a change of clothes if they were displaced overnight. Malgren loaded up boxes with the essentials, including residents’ medications, while waiting for a school bus to transport them to their temporary home.
Meanwhile, La Crescent Mayor Mike Poellinger worked to find a temporary shelter He found a willing group at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Staff gathered coffee and cookies and moved comfortable furniture into its fellowship room for the men, said Cathy Beardmore, the church’s youth director.
The Mosher residents quickly made themselves at home. Kim Cyrus, 53, enjoyed a sugar cookie and a cup of coffee while Christmas music played from a nearby boom box. Local American Legion members provided lunch, with assistant manager Rose Albrecht busy over the noon hour frying hamburgers to take to the veterans and volunteers at the church. Santa even made a visit a short time later.
Still, the residents were happy to be heading home at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Hafner said. It was a sentiment she echoed.
“It was a good experience, but not one I want to do again real soon.”
Ground footage from WEAU:
Aerial footage from WKBT:
bartski wrote on Dec 18, 2008 9:35 AM: