Hermantown woman shares her story after explosion damages her home

HERMANTOWN, Minn.– Following the terrible explosion at ‘Green acres’ in Hermantown last Saturday night, one of the residents there is going back for the first time, and re-lived what she said, no one should ever go through.

“I guess I just, in my whole life, never expected anything like this to happen. But I’m lucky, I’ve had many many phone calls from friends and family,” said Nancy Platzer.

For Nancy Platzer of Hermantown, Saturday January 31st started off like any other day.

“Saturdays are cleaning and laundry day, and so my whole morning is spent doing that. And then, of course, it came to lunch and coffee time,” recalled Platzer.

When this incident occurred last week, 81-year-old Nancy told FOX 21, that initially she thought it was a bomb.

“I’m sitting there, the doors when the bomb hit, the lights went out, and all the doors in the whole place came flying smashing, including a huge steel door that goes to our garage from the kitchen. And of course, all the doors open and everything’s flying,” said Platzer.

Platzer said luckily, help quickly arrived after the horrifying events unfolded.

And since then, she said, it’s been a rocky road to recovery.

“I thought I was holding up really well until Wednesday, and Wednesday, my entire body started to shake. I just couldn’t stop it from shaking, and I realized that you’re not doing really well. You’re not doing well with this at all,” said Platzer.

With this devastation, Platzer lost her two friends, Gayle and Joan, alongside her prized possessions, such as memorable photographs of deceased loved ones.

That being said though, she said, there’s still plenty of memories she holds close during her time at Green Acres.

“This is a wonderful place, just so many wonderful, good things go on here, and everybody’s friendly, just the nicest, safest neighborhood you could ever be in. And yeah, you never know when you’re going to knock on the door and when there will be maybe a blueberry pie, or there’ll be brownies,” said Platzer.

While Nancy recovers, her children are supporting her every step of the way.

Including, creating a go-fund-me to help her rebuild.