Community searching for answers after mine collapses in Chandler
CHANDLER, Ind. (WFIE) - Warrick County EMA confirmed at least nine homes sustained serious damage in the partial mine collapse.
Many of those in the surrounding area are facing uncertainty.
Town officials held a meeting this evening to answer the questions of those impacted.
[RELATED: Mine collapse damages a dozen homes in Chandler]
Officials say most people will have to wait to get an insurance estimate or start repairs until there’s been no further collapse detected over a 90-day period.
They do say that most of the major movement is done for now, but the ground could continue to sink as the collapsed sediment compacts over the next few months and years.
County and town officials addressed a number of questions including what will happen for those without mine subsidence insurance.
“It’s not going to be good, and I’m sorry for that,” says Grant Freeman with MCF Construction.
Brian Lucas is one of those unlucky homeowners.
“I just recently retired, and I went from happy and housebound to homeless basically,” he tells us.
Lucas says he recently changed insurance carriers only to realize too late that mine subsidence is not covered by his new policy.
“In time like this, if you don’t have it, no pun intended, you’re looking into a deep hole,” he says.
Warrick County EMA Director Matt Goebel says it’s individuals like Lucas they’re working to find a way to help, since they could be facing a total financial loss.
“It’s all coming down to the research seeing what we can do,” he says. “That’s why my heart goes out to them. It hurts to know that maybe we can and maybe we can’t, but at the end of the day that’s our job is to try to help them.”
Officials say DNR and the Department of Homeland Security will be on the ground to survey the area to see what can be done.
“We’re doing our very best. Everything we know to do we’re doing that,” says Chandler Environmental Manager Michael Bell.
With more questions than answers right now, Town of Chandler officials say their doors and inboxes are open to the community.
Emergency management officials say they hope to have a much better idea of what can be done after the Department of Homeland Security completes their walkthrough of the area Tuesday morning.
They are urging anyone who has noticed signs of damage on their property, or those who have unmet needs, to contact their office at (812) 897-6178.
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