LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Lousiville's Givaudan Sense Colour factory was busy with activity Wednesday. Workers with personal protective equipment were on the property along with construction moving equipment. Fencing has been installed, with a sign reading "DANGER OVERHEAD POWER LINES."
A change from a scene left with debris scattered everywhere, still smoldering from the explosion about a month ago.
Thursday marks a month since the plant's explosion took two lives, injured many, and caused damage to buildings in the neighborhood. Some of this damage is still being determined.
Two reminders still stand for the people lost and affected by the explosion: a weathered teddy bear outside the fencing and a picture of one of the workers who passed outside United Crescent Hill Ministries.
The building has become the meeting place residents go to talk to Givaudan representatives about their damage and situations.
Wednesday was the second to last meeting with the company before the holidays. It was busy too. Representatives from the company and its insurance company, Crawford & Co., worked to help homeowners.
One was Haldeman Avenue resident Hilary Ford, who went to the open hours to receive her re-imbursement.
"I don't feel comfortable not being at the home until my doors are replaced," said Ford. "That's what that check is taking care of."
WHAS11 News spoke to Ford in November where she said the explosion forced her doors out of their hinges, but since then she's noticed more issues in her home.
"Your insurance adjustor comes and they see one thing and it's four weeks now and things have shifted," said Ford. "They've settled. They've moved."
She has found new cracks in the walls, broken trusses in her attic, and holes in her walls.
"My adjustor is trying to be helpful, but the way that the system is built, is to how to get you to whole for the least amount of money," said Ford.
Once people can get in to work on her home, Ford said she will have to live elsewhere for an estimated six to eight weeks.
Other homeowners are just starting the claim process, including Payne Street resident Cameron Latham.
"My house is really old; it's 125 this coming year," said Latham. "I wanted to make sure that nothing underneath the surface is damaged as far as the structural integrity."
Being about 800 feet from the plant, he only heard the boom from the explosion and lost his bathroom mirror. A structural engineer is scheduled to assess Latham's property next week.
WHAS11 News asked Givaudan representative Elaine Gravatte for an interview, but she declined, saying there was nothing new to add. A new hotline number has been announced, and Gravatte did say the new number is meant to increase efficiency.
There's still one question on the minds of many: where will Givaudan move to?
"It's an opportunity to put an industrial facility in an industrial area," said Ford.
"Especially considering that people lost their lives," said Latham. "It's not good."
WHAS11 News reached out to the mayor's office on details pertaining to discussions of the company staying in Jefferson County, and where those areas may be, but haven't heard back.
The last open hours with Givaudan before the holidays is December 18 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at United Crescent Hill Ministries.
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