Train explosion evacuation presentation tonight

Plans for six neighborhoods drawn up so far

First in a series of presentations tonight in La Crosse County to look at evacuation plans in the case of a crude oil train explosion.

Tonight’s presentation is at 7 p.m. at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Visitor Center (W5727 CTH Z) in Brice Prairie – one of the toughest places to evacuate, says county emergency management coordinator, Keith Butler, but not as bad as the neighborhood east of the BNSF tracks between Main street and State Road in La Crosse.

Though they tried various ways, says Butler, they could not up with a viable way to get people out of that area in the event of an explosion. Butler has prepared evacuation plans for six neighborhoods along BNSF tracks in the county. Those plans were prepared with the help of some grant funding.  Tonight’s Brice Prairie presentation begins at 7 at the US Fish and Wildlife Center building.