Flordell Hills Residents Return

Some residents are finally being allowed to move back into their homes in Flordell Hills that's after being evacuated more than a week ago when a home explosion blasted through a neighborhood.

By Theresa Petry,

May 10, 2008, 8:24 PM CDT

Some residents are finally being allowed to move back into their homes in Flordell Hills that's after being evacuated more than a week ago when a home explosion blasted through a neighborhood.

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It's been frustrating to say the least for both residents and city officials. And while a few moved back in this weekend, many more are still locked out.

Yellow police tape still blocks off the area rocked by the blast; 27 homes in all sustained some sort of damage.

"It's been hectic and it's been devastating, really yeah, I can't get back in my home," said resident Alberta Owens. She has had to stay with her daughter.

The city mandated residents get a structural engineer to check out their homes. Almost a dozen have been deemed sound but repairs need to be made and then they need approval from the city before moving back in.

"Before they move back in there will be an inspection done by the city to be sure its been brought up to code. Now any house that's just got windows broke out that we find there is no structural damage as long as its not in the main living portion of the home they'll be able to move back in," explained the city's finance officer, Carol Wallace.

A few moved back in this weekend but many more remain displaced not knowing how much longer they'll be locked out.

Alberta's insurance agent gave her hope it'd be soon, within a week or two. "He said maybe for some people it'd be months but not for me cause I didn't have extensive damage," Owens said hopefully.

"It's terrible absolutely terrible. You see little kids up there the other night that can't get in and get their toys," declared Wallace.

City employees say they're doing what they can to make the process easy, quick, and safe; working 12 and 15 hour days.

"Madness and there's nothing we can do other than what we're doing to try and help," Wallace exclaimed.

Some residents may never be able to move back into their homes. The city estimates about four homes will need to be torn down.