Baldwin Sheriff talks about explosion

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WALA) - Baldwin County Sheriff Huey "Hoss" Mack said he knew something was wrong when he felt the ground shake beneath his feet.  

"We felt it, somewhat felt like an earthquake, and we heard the boom as well. Immediately after that, realizing there had been an explosion of some type is when we started to evacuate the building," Mack said.

Mack along with Chief Deputy Charlie Jones, and Major Anthony Lowery were all at the Opryland Hotel for a meeting of the National Sheriff's Association. Mack said they were four floors above where the explosion occurred.

"The room that it occurred in was basically a basement of the building we were in; it was in the convention center of the hotel. We saw some of the damage on evacuation. Some of the ceilings had collapsed there was at least one wall that was blown out," Mack said.

Mack said the group went from being helped, to trying to help.

"The Opryland is such a massive facility. Over 5,000 people were on site that had to be evacuated," Mack said.

Mack said they were in the parking lot of the hotel until around 2:30 Wednesday morning as the investigation continued.

Mack said right now, it looks as though the explosion was a natural gas or steam explosion or maybe a combination of the two.

He said luckily no one was hurt.