After the fire is out or the tornado has passed, the work of recovery begins. The process is not a simple one, as the residents, builders and managers of the Wespark subdivision in Romeoville have learned.
All was well the afternoon of April 29, when about 100 of the 400 townhome-style condominiums and single-family homes had been built by Neumann Homes. Then an excavating crew hit a gas line and a fierce explosion erupted. Twenty-four units were totally destroyed and 56 more were damaged. Construction debris, broken glass and personal treasures flew threw the air, covering the equivalent of four square blocks. A few owners had closed on the sales of their homes that day. Fortunately, no lives were lost.
“No book on a shelf could have prepared us for this,” said Kris Zwycewicz, Neumann’s vice president of architecture and purchasing.
“You never think it’s going to happen to you,” said senior vice president of sales and marketing Jean Neumann.
Help arrived quickly and throughout the night. Within minutes of the explosion, police, fire, rescue and gas company personnel were on the scene. So were representatives from Neumann and PM-Vanguard, which manages the property. The Red Cross came armed with cots and food.
“Some of our staff went to the site and others stayed in the office to call people,” said Zwycewicz.
Safety and communication were the first two concerns as owners came home from work and began to congregate in the streets. Initially, they were evacuated to the community center of a neighboring apartment complex, which offered the facility for as long as it was needed. Between 80 and 90 residents were not able to go back to their homes that first night.
In addition to providing shelter until residents could find their own, the community house served as a clearinghouse for information. During the first harried days, progress reports were posted every couple of hours and meetings held frequently. Residents were briefed as to the status of their units, assisted with housing and told how to proceed with their interrupted lives. Management staff tracked names of residents, emergency telephone numbers and insurance data, so displaced residents could be reached with new information as it was available.
The majority of residents moved back into their homes within the first three weeks. Even those units that did not appear to be damaged had to be checked for additional leaks. Reconstruction, complicated by numerous insurance companies, inspections and court orders, has been more tedious. No work could be started until all were in consensus as to what should be done and who is responsible for it.
“It took 10 weeks for all the engineers to finish their inspections,” said Mark Friedman, managing director of PM-Vanguard in Schaumburg. “All the insurance companies had to agree on what needed to be demolished and what could be kept.”
By mid-July, the demolition of 24 townhomes was approved. Thirty-five residents were still not back in their homes.
“It’s been a lesson in patience,” said Friedman. “At the first meeting we told them it would take four to six months. “It’s taking a little longer. We didn’t give them false expectations.”
Although no one is ever entirely prepared for the loss of a home, having proper insurance coverage can make the loss easier. Condominium associations generally cover the common elements in event of a loss, but owners are expected to provide coverage for their possessions and furnishings.
“I can never emphasize enough that homeowners have the right insurance,” said Friedman. “We have a couple who don’t have insurance. They didn’t think they’d need it.”
“Videotape and document your possessions and make sure your policy covers everything,” said Zwycewicz. “I know of two people who had complete losses, including birth certificates and class rings. How are you going to prove to the insurance company what you own?”
“If you can remember,” added Neumann.
Homeowner associations need to make sure their policies will cover the unexpected, said Friedman.
“No one can budget for something like this,” he said. “Extra expense coverage is extremely important. Everything that is not covered (by insurance) will mean a special assessment. The owners will pay.”