LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After three days of frustration for Louisville homeowners in the Clifton neighborhood, there's now an avenue for them to directly communicate with the company who's food coloring factory exploded, killing two employees and wounding several others.
On X Thursday evening, Mayor Craig Greenberg said at his request, Givaudan officials are providing a phone number and email address for any residents who have questions following Tuesday's explosion and any people with property damage.
The phone number listed is 1-800-856-3333 and the email address is communitysupport@ddwcolor.com.
It comes as Givaudan, who's yet to address the community in public since the blast, told WHAS11 it'll be sending representatives to the Clifton Community Council's meeting on Monday at 6 p.m. to address concerns and provide resources for repairs needed for homes and businesses. The company has not said yet whether it'll cover the costs of damages.
This is the Givaudan spokesperson's full statement on Thursday:
Our immediate steps are to support the associates who were injured and the families of those we lost. We are working with each of them individually and we are committed to supporting them through this difficult time. We will ensure the best possible support for all people affected, but to respect their privacy, please understand that we cannot disclose any details.
Our next steps include reaching out to the community to address their concerns and to provide the residents who were directly impacted with resources for conducting the repairs needed on their homes or businesses. We are finalizing this process now and will be able to provide details very shortly. We look forward to speaking with neighbors about this at the community meeting on Monday. We are committed to a simple, clear process that will help overcome the difficulties faced by the accident.
Neighbors will hold the meeting at the United Crescent Hill Ministries building on State Street. Louisville Metro Councilman Andrew Owen will be there answering questions.
In an interview with reporters Thursday, Greenberg said he was feeling the same frustration as homeowners for the lack of in-person presence by the company after the incident. The Mayor even went as far as to say he'd like to see Givaudan rebuild in a different spot, but remain in the city.
"I hope that the company considers a different location," Greenberg said. "I think there are better locations in the city of Louisville for a facility like this. There are other locations that are by rail lines that are easy to get to-and-from that are not in such close proximity to so many houses."
It goes in line with what many Clifton residents say they want -- for Givaudan's plant to leave their neighborhood.
Prior to learning about the company's plans to attend their meeting, Mike O'Leary, president of the Clifton Community Council, said, "Bottom line is the company is at fault, in my opinion, and they need to reach out to us so we can start repairing our homes."
He added that no one from the company contacted him about attending the meeting, but says they're welcome.
"At first we were scared, and we were terribly worried about the employees. Now, we've entered into the anger phase of where the heck are they? I wish they'd be here to talk to us and to listen to us," O'Leary told WHAS11 before learning about Givaudan's plans.
But O'Leary said the community is wary of what they wish for, understanding that plot of land is zoned for industrial use, thus even if Givaudan leaves, another similar kind of factory could take it's place.
Louisville Fire Chief Brian O'Neill said he expects the investigation to be complete likely during the weekend, when a cause for the explosion could become more clear.
The mayor says the city will help inspect houses damaged. Members of the Arson Unit were seen going from house to house talking with homeowners to assess damage on Thursday.
The looming questions: What was the cause, and who's liable?
U.S. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky tells WHAS11 that his team is in contact with emergency officials.
"Like any accident, there needs to be an investigation. And if there's culpability, people need to pay for it. There needs to be punishment if there's culpability," Paul said.
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