Gas leak prompts brief evacuation of the Atlantic Hy-Vee store
December 20th, 2017 by Ric Hanson
An accident this morning in Atlantic caused a brief evacuation of the Atlantic Hy-Vee Store. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon says the incident happened at around 8:45-a.m. He said a straight truck backed into the external gas line connection to the store causing a leak of natural gas that was noticed outside and inside the store. A valve to the line was quickly shut-off and the store ventilated. The doors were re-opened to customers about 30-minutes later.
No injuries were reported. Kennon says the driver was backing up to a loading dock when the incident occurred. He says the truck managed to miss the concrete post barriers and it was fortunate it struck the incoming line on the opposite side of the shut-off valve.
Alliant Energy crews were working on repairing the connection as firefighters were leaving.