Residents of Olin return to normal after emergency evacuation

A bit drowsy but otherwise unharmed, residents of this Jones County town resumed normal activities Monday morning following an emergency evacuation caused by the suspicious release of 1,000 gallons of anhydrous ammonia on the south edge of town.

“We are all a little tired but otherwise fine,” said Carrie Fortin, business manager at Olin Consolidated School, which delayed its opening two hours Monday to compensate for the sleep lost during the late-night evacuation.

The town of about 700 residents was under a voluntary evacuation order from about 10 p.m. Sunday until 2:30 a.m. Monday, according to Olin Fire Chief Steven Robinson, who coordinated the evacuation.

Robinson said no one required medical treatment for burns, breathing difficulties or other problems associated with exposure to the common farm fertilizer.

Both Robinson and Larry Lahr, manager of the River Valley Cooperative, said the valve on a full 1,000-gallon anhydrous ammonia tank wagon had been tampered with - probably by would-be illegal makers of methamphetamine.

Lahr said the caps covering the valves on other tank wagons had also been removed.

“The valves are locked, and the tanks are checked daily. I don't know what else we can do” to prevent thefts, Lahr said.

Robinson said the lock on the drained tank had been tampered with but not broken.

Because there was little wind Sunday night, the ammonia gas accumulated around the tank, preventing closure of the valve, with the result that its entire contents emptied, Lahr said.

Robinson said emergency workers from several agencies alerted residents to the danger through door-to-door contact and through the town's emergency loudspeaker system.

“It was flowing through town pretty good,” said Jill Eganhouse, 50, who drove from her home on Olin's north side to get her father from his home across town. When she rolled down her car's window to talk to a police officer, “I couldn't even breathe,” she said.

“By the time I got there, got him in the car, and got back, it was all through town,” she said.

About 100 residents took temporary shelter at the Morley Community Building about six miles away, while others drove out of town in their cars and waited for the all-clear signal, according to Brenda Leonard, Jones County Emergency Management coordinator.

“Some people wouldn't leave their homes and you can't make them if they don't want to,” Robinson said.