today i witnessed a home explode. there was a house being rehabbed a couple houses down from mine. we share the same block and our yards are connected. i remember being woken up early to the sounds of jackhammers. when i eventually woke, it was just a normal morning. i was getting dressed and ready to goto the gym. my mom was on the phone with my aunt. we were both in the same room. we have a shed, but ours is connected to our house which is a laundry and bathroom. so you would go through this room to our back door to go out in the yard.
out of nowhere there was a loud boom. i knew it wasnt a gun shot. it was about 11AMish, i should mention. the whole house shook and to be honest it felt like a sonic boom. like the wave from a bomb blast rippled through the house. to me it felt like it made me float and my stomach felt like it went into my throat, sick. my mom was the closest to the back door and the door itself flung open and hit her. i immediately ran out out into the yard. i saw smoke and then crumbling of this house. i thought the fences were going to fall down next. my mom had to hang up on my aunt to call 911. it sounded like she was the one to make the first call. we were the first ones out into our yard. shortly after, the electrical wires on that side of the houses were exploding, sparking and catching on fire. other neighbors soon were out in their yards calling 911. my mom, she was screaming at me get in because the wires were sparking pretty bad. i stayed out there and climbed the fence. firefighters were already in control. but the house towards the corner looked like it was going to inflame.
we werent evacuated yet. i met up with a friend who actually called in sick at his job. i showed him the back of the house through my yard. it still seemed like chaos because no one had no idea what happened. i first thought someone had a gas leak or hit the gas tank since i heard jackhammers or since it was a rehabbed house, squatters. they rescued a girl through the back. supposedly 6-8 injured, including a baby. the 2 others houses next to it also collapsed.
then they made it official my side of the street to get out of the houses. a school down the street opened their doors to those in the area. majority of the street just remained on the opposite side until further notice from cops/firefighters. we had to help a neighbor, which is a family friend, who is in a wheelchair and has one lung.
and it seemed so quick the neighborhood was flooded with news stations, reporters.
me and my mom were interviewed by the Daily News and Inquirer here in Philly. they took our information and i even took them into my yard so they could get a view of what we saw. it was really shocking. so close to my house.
there was no deaths, thankfully. they towed a demolished car from the street. i did hear a man was partially on fire, running down the street and hosed him down.
the evacuation only lasted maybe 2 hours tops. but parts of the street had no electricity. everything is back on but those who live directly on the blast side have had to find somewhere to go for the night. they were allowed to get a few items and get their pets.
it has been quite a day. things are calm now. i hope i sleep because i am quite tired but i cant help but think about the foundation of the houses.
i am just glad there was no severe emergencies.
this is what you could see from my yard
out of nowhere there was a loud boom. i knew it wasnt a gun shot. it was about 11AMish, i should mention. the whole house shook and to be honest it felt like a sonic boom. like the wave from a bomb blast rippled through the house. to me it felt like it made me float and my stomach felt like it went into my throat, sick. my mom was the closest to the back door and the door itself flung open and hit her. i immediately ran out out into the yard. i saw smoke and then crumbling of this house. i thought the fences were going to fall down next. my mom had to hang up on my aunt to call 911. it sounded like she was the one to make the first call. we were the first ones out into our yard. shortly after, the electrical wires on that side of the houses were exploding, sparking and catching on fire. other neighbors soon were out in their yards calling 911. my mom, she was screaming at me get in because the wires were sparking pretty bad. i stayed out there and climbed the fence. firefighters were already in control. but the house towards the corner looked like it was going to inflame.
we werent evacuated yet. i met up with a friend who actually called in sick at his job. i showed him the back of the house through my yard. it still seemed like chaos because no one had no idea what happened. i first thought someone had a gas leak or hit the gas tank since i heard jackhammers or since it was a rehabbed house, squatters. they rescued a girl through the back. supposedly 6-8 injured, including a baby. the 2 others houses next to it also collapsed.
then they made it official my side of the street to get out of the houses. a school down the street opened their doors to those in the area. majority of the street just remained on the opposite side until further notice from cops/firefighters. we had to help a neighbor, which is a family friend, who is in a wheelchair and has one lung.
and it seemed so quick the neighborhood was flooded with news stations, reporters.
me and my mom were interviewed by the Daily News and Inquirer here in Philly. they took our information and i even took them into my yard so they could get a view of what we saw. it was really shocking. so close to my house.
there was no deaths, thankfully. they towed a demolished car from the street. i did hear a man was partially on fire, running down the street and hosed him down.
the evacuation only lasted maybe 2 hours tops. but parts of the street had no electricity. everything is back on but those who live directly on the blast side have had to find somewhere to go for the night. they were allowed to get a few items and get their pets.
it has been quite a day. things are calm now. i hope i sleep because i am quite tired but i cant help but think about the foundation of the houses.
i am just glad there was no severe emergencies.
this is what you could see from my yard