PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — In the five days since an explosion destroyed at least three houses in Port Richmond, neighbors have been working night and day to take care of themselves and each other. But they want answers, too.
During a community meeting Wednesday night at the Columbia Social Club, officials from the city and local utility companies met with residents. Neighbors arranged the meeting hoping to get questions answered and represent the wishes and needs of the people on Miller Street affected by the New Year's Day explosion.
Authorities announced that while a gas leak is the suspected cause, officials still have not been able to locate the source of the leak. And, another row home heavily damaged by the explosion was condemned, bringing the total to three destroyed homes.
“I can’t talk about the investigation because it’s not over,” said Philadelphia Fire Deputy Chief Dennis Merrigan. “I can’t give you any details of the investigation except that we can say there is no evidence of any illegal activity at this site.”
Melanie McCottry, a spokesperson for Philadelphia Gas Works, said crews have been conducting leak detection surveys underground around the explosion site. She said they have not found any leaks in the natural gas mains or service pipes of the two homes that were destroyed. PGW crews are waiting for access to the condemned house to do a similar inspection.
Brian McQuoid lives a few doors down from the homes that were destroyed. He can go there to get things he needs, but at this point, he’s not allowed to stay long.
“It’s still devastating,” he said, “not knowing if your house is going to get condemned.”
"No one knows what is going on,” said Ken Paul, who organized the meeting. “No one has an answer as to what happened. Where do we go from here? And what is going to be done?”
Paul invited many city officials to Wednesday's meeting. Neighbors may not need help from state representatives just yet, he said, “but down the line, they might have to be part of it.”
Residents still have questions that, so far, no one has answers for, said Paul: “I know it's still early on in the investigation. People are confused as, do I deal with my homeowners [insurance]? Do I go after the gas company? Is the city responsible? What about my car? Do I deal with my car insurance?”
Neighborhood is ‘a resilient bunch’
At the time of the explosion, Paul was down the Shore with his wife Anne. He said his phone started ringing at 3 a.m., 10 minutes after the blast.
"People that quick started to call to check in on me and my wife,” he said.
“Originally, they said it was the 3600 block, which is the block that I live on. Then I panicked because my daughter lives across the street and my sister-in-law lives at the other end of the block."
The Pauls rushed home to help. They say they were not surprised to find the neighbors of Port Richmond already out in force helping one another. Paul said that the devastation itself is shocking enough — but it is particularly incredible that no one was killed.
“They are a resilient bunch, in this neighborhood, because they were out there on their own, hosing out their yards, sweeping up the stuff, trying to clean off the cars, trying to maneuver around big pieces of debris,” he said.
"I mean, that thing no sooner happened than people that had the means were cooking food and bringing it down for the people that were sitting outside bewildered and not knowing what to do, and taking care of all the workers and the helpers."
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As they wait for answers, Paul said Port Richmond has shown itself to be one incredible community.
"The Red Cross has been here since this happened, and nobody — not one person — has accepted help from them,” he said. “Because that's the way this neighborhood works. They have relied on their friends, their neighbors and family, you know. We always say it's Port Richmond pride. We take care of ourselves and each other. And that's exactly what they're doing."