Last updated 2 years ago 
RANCHO CORDOVA, CA - Three days after a fatal natural gas explosion, some angry neighbors say they're not getting enough help from Rancho Cordova and Pacific Gas and Electric officials.
"We need to feel safe but we need the City of Rancho Cordova to step up and take the lead," said homeowner Charles Wheeler. "We need some professional people go door to door, we need to have the buildings assessed for damages because there may be structural damage we don't even know about."
Wheeler and more than a dozen neighbors gathered at a motel conference room Saturday evening to talk about their needs, venting their anger that not enough help is being offered. Some said they're suffering post-traumatic stress not only from the explosion itself, but also from conflicting fear of staying in damaged homes or leaving and making their property vulnerable to crime.
"There are (strangers) walking by, driving by, coming on bicycles, they don't even live in the neighborhood," said Karen Morrison, whose mother lives across from the destroyed home and wants to move away. "They can't leave their homes. They can't secure their homes and yet they don't feel safe either."
Pedro Hernandez, who helped organize the neighbor meeting, said the ceilings are falling in, walls are cracked and the houses have been moved from their foundation. But he said there's no real effort from officials to go door to door asking residents what damage their homes may have.
"We're all on our own. That's what it's coming down to," added Tim Anderson. "They told me if you have to, go stay in a motel, keep receipts and you'll be reimbursed. Well the economy's bad. Some of us don't have the financial means to go down the street and stay in a motel where we need to stay."
Rancho Cordova Police Lt. Roseann Richeal heard about the meeting and came to listen to their complaints, then notified several city officials to come by as well. Those officials said they weren't aware the neighbors felt abandoned and promise to do whatever they can to help.
"I would never say it's ever too late when it's brought to your attention," said Richeal. "Whether it's the day it occurs, two days later, you take that information, help the folks move forward and get some resolution and get everybody back on track to moving on with their lives."
Homeowner Wilbert "Bill" Paana died from injuries he sustained when the explosion destroyed his house on Christmas Eve afternoon. The blast leveled his house and hurled him out into the street where pieces of the building landed on top of him.
Paana's daughter, Kim Dickson, was apparently walking out of the house when the explosion happened. She remains in critical condition. Dickson's teenage daughter, Sunny Dickson, has been upgraded to good condition.
While National Transportation and Safety Board officials and PG&E plans to come back Monday to further investigate the source of the gas leak, some neighbors said they don't feel safe using their gas in the meantime. A notification warning them they may smell gas again during that initial work Monday added to the anxiety.
Neighbors said the gas line was a problem before and that PG&E came out to dig it up and make repairs just 18 months ago.
Bill Salanoa said he's trying to get his mother out of the neighborhood now but he wants PG&E to pay for everything. He thinks they should pay for everybody's house that they may have to destroy or dig up to make it right.
KXTV/News 10
