On April 11 I was sitting on the computer on the third floor when suddenly there was a massive boom, the dogs went running, the house shook, and I looked up and saw the house across the way splintering and disappearing in a cloud of smoke, dirt and debris. I screamed “Oh my God!” My mom jumped up and ran to the window as I did. My husband was in the basement and hearing the explosion as well and my screaming came tearing up the stairs. I told him the house near us had just exploded.
We grabbed our shoes and ran out the front door, along with other neighbors.
We got there and a few firemen were already on the scene trying to assess the situation. The entire site was flattened. Electric poles falling over and nothing but rubble. A dog was running around and refusing to come to anyone. It looked and smelled like a gas explosion. Glass from surrounding buildings windows was in the street.
More officers and fireman began to arrive and they worked on getting animals and people out of the close buildings.
I went and got the older man who was standing shell shocked by his house. He was a bit pissed with me for forcing him to go and not letting him go back inside, but I was fine with him being pissed at me.
We left to make room for the rest of the rescue crew and there was little we could do.
I could see the fire hoses from our window and there are were helicopters flying over head. It’s scary indeed. This is one reason I don’t like gas.