LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It was an emotional Clifton Community Council meeting Monday evening. Neighbors packed the United Crescent Hill Ministries Community Center to question Givaudan President Ann Leonard and her team members after the plant explosion Nov. 12.
The explosion took the lives of two workers, injured more and damaged several neighboring properties including homes and businesses.
In an announcement Monday, officials said the cause of the Givaudan explosion was a failed pressure cooker tank known as cooking vessel No. 6.
The community looks for answers as they work to make repairs and get back to a "new normal" after the explosion.
Some said they are struggling from health issues following the blast, and many expressed how lucky the community was there weren't more lives lost.
"That big boom, that big blast, my glands are swollen behind my ears," said one resident. "My head is in and out throbbing. That hurts. I'm homeless. I'm walking around here with pain that I didn't have to deal with before."
A mother asked Leonard if the blast radius will be released.
"I have a 4-year-old son," she said. "He is irritable. He is angry. He has nightmares. He is not the same. I want information on this for his safety because I don't understand what he might need."
Abigail Schweizer attended the meeting to ask Leonard questions.
"What I'm hoping for is accountability," said Schweizer.
Schweizer has created a petition to get Givaudan out of the neighborhood. As of the publication of this article, the online petition has over 200 signatures. Schweizer said there were 100 in a hard copy of the petition, with more coming from Monday night's meeting.
"We don't want the plant to close if it doesn't have to because we value the Louisvillian jobs that the plant provides," said Schweizer. "But, we do want the neighborhood to be safe."
Schweizer said a group will be taking the petition to Metro Council Thursday evening. Metro Council can revoke the business license of Givaudan.
During the meeting, Leonard told residents the company is looking for other locations for the plant.
Frustrations were high at the meeting, as people questioned Leonard about the cleanup and repair of their properties as well as sharing issues with the hotline. They also questioned what the company will compensate, along with how the incident affects their insurance and property values.
"There were a lot of questions that did not get answered," said Clifton resident Cherise Williams. "And people need answers."
One Payne Street resident spoke to Leonard about his disappointment in the response.
"I'm your next door neighbor," he said with two young boys by his side. "Nobody from the company has reached out, checked on anybody as far as I'm aware of on my street."
While Givaudan said send them the bill, there's concern about temporary housing and meeting the needs of those left homeless.
"They need to complete their due diligence and get these people helped without it being in any expense to them," said Williams. "I'm not a gambler. I don't want to gamble on [Givaudan] doing better next time. Just leave. Go."
Councilmember Andrew Owen said in the meeting, there will be more in the future. That information will be posted on social media when scheduled.
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