Dallas apartment explosion residents moved to second hotel as repairs continue

Residents of the Dallas apartment explosion moved to the second hotel while repairs continued

The first hotel rooms had already been booked for the Texas OU weekend, so the city found a new temporary place to stay for the next few days.

Residents who lived in an explosion-damaged apartment complex in Dallas moved to a new hotel Thursday.

Repair work is still underway on the Highland Hills Apartments a week after the explosion. The first hotel rooms had already been booked for the Texas OU weekend, so the city found a new temporary place to stay for the next few days.

More than 100 residents were relocated to the Hilton Anatole Hotel on Thursday, where the city has secured around 80 rooms.

“Right now we’re looking at three to five days. We don’t know. It’s going to be a daily situation, but for at least five days,” Councilor Tennell Atkins said.

Atkins, who represents the area, told FOX4 that one residential building was destroyed and two sustained significant damage that will need to be repaired before those residents move back.

TIED TOGETHER: Apartment explosion in Dallas injures 8, 3 firefighters in critical condition

“It will take time, it won’t happen overnight. The City of Dallas said, ‘You are in Dallas, you are our resident, we will make sure you take care of you,'” Atkins said.

City officials say the apartment complex is still working to restore gas and hot water to the existing units. Officials also said the Dallas Housing Authority is providing vouchers to residents to move into a new apartment on a case-by-case basis.

The stress of commuting from hotel to hotel not knowing what will happen next has weighed heavily on residents like Ashley King and her family.

Dozens of people lined up Thursday to receive food and gift cards at Bon Air Baptist Church courtesy of the North Texas Food Bank, Mark Cuban Heroes Center, and their partners.

“It helps because I have kids. Last night they had to eat dollar cup noodles because I didn’t have the money to eat, and the last meal is at 5 am,” said King. “As long as my children are eating, I go to bed hungry, so I have no problem with that.”

TIED TOGETHER: Authorities are still investigating the cause of the Dallas apartment explosion

At least one lawsuit has been filed against Atmos Energy in Dallas County on behalf of an injured apartment complex lease manager. It is demanding more than $ 1 million in damages.

“Buildings don’t just explode, they explode because someone, somewhere, someone’s job has failed,” said attorney Dylan Bess, Morgan & Morgan.

His law firm represents several residents, including at least one woman who was injured by broken glass in the explosion. They are investigating multiple claims from local residents about previous reports of gas odor and insurance problems.

“We know that many of the residents there felt that they had paid for tenant insurance for the apartment complex. It turned out that there was no tenant insurance,” said Bess.

TIED TOGETHER:

Residents displaced by an apartment explosion in Dallas will have to leave hotels by Thursday

Three firefighters were still hospitalized the day after the Dallas apartment exploded

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