BROKEN BOW, Neb. — An early morning explosion at the Broken Bow Municipal Power Plant sent a shockwave through the community Thursday, knocking out power to much of the city and prompting an emergency declaration.

The explosion occurred at approximately 6:17 a.m. at the plant, located in the 800 block of South B Street. According to officials, two city employees were inside the plant at the time and sustained minor injuries. They were transported to Melham Memorial Medical Center as a precaution and later released.

The Broken Bow Electric Department successfully rerouted power to most areas of the city shortly after the explosion. However, some locations remained without electricity, and city officials say restoration efforts were ongoing.

The following areas are still without power:

  • North 8th & C Street
  • North 9th & J Street
  • North 10th & H Street
  • North 11th & H Street
  • North 12th & H Street
  • North 12th & D Street
  • North B-14th Street
  • Highway 2 to South B Street to 15th Street

City Administrator Dave Schmidt said during a press conference residents in these areas will remain without power for an undetermined amount of time while crews work to implement temporary systems. Those whose power has been restored should not experience further interruptions and are operating at full capacity.

For those without power or heat, the city has opened two emergency shelters:

  • North Park Elementary School (1135 North H Street)
  • Third City Christian Church (831 Buffalo Run Road)

City crews were conducting welfare checks in areas still without power and assisting residents in getting to emergency shelters if needed.

The explosion disrupted the city’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which automates key water service controls. Crews manually operated the water systems and urged residents to limit unnecessary water use to ease strain on the system. 

Officials believe extreme cold may have put significant stress on the power system, leading to the explosion. However, the exact cause remains under investigation. During a press conference, city officials confirmed the fire was under control, and crews were continuing to monitor hot spots. While the full extent of the damage to the power plant is unknown, officials say it is "likely significant."

No neighboring structures were damaged, and no first responders were injured during the emergency response.

Residents are urged to stay clear of the downtown area while crews continue working.

Sandhills Express contributed to this story.