The Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD) responded on January 1, 2023 to an explosion in Port Richmond on the 3500 block of Miller Street that injured at least five people, destroyed three houses, and damaged 43 other homes and the Samuel Recreation Center.
Representatives from City agencies attended a meeting of the Port Richmond On Patrol And Civic (PROPAC) on Wednesday, Jan. 4 to answer questions from residents.
The after-school programming at Samuel Recreation Center has been temporarily relocated to Cohocksink Recreation Center until the building can safely reopen. All other programs are temporarily suspended. Relocation plans will be shared here and at phila.gov/ppr.
The PFD Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of this explosion in partnership with public utility agencies. If you think you smell gas, or have other safety concerns about your home, call 9-1-1 and the Fire Department will come out to investigate.
The PFD, Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management, Philadelphia Gas Works, PECO and other partners continue to respond to this incident.
This blog will be updated as more information becomes available.
Insurance and Public Utility questions
March 2, 2023
If you have consumer rights concerns or questions regarding the insurance on your property, please reach out to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.
For any utility concerns, visit the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s website.
Assistance for Older Adults
May 1, 2023
If you, or someone you know, is an older adult who may need connections to support or services, please contact the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging by visiting their website or by calling their helpline at 215-765-9040.
Damage report survey
January 5, 2023
If your property was affected by the explosion, the Office of Emergency Management would like to hear from you. Please take a simple survey located at www.phila.gov/damagereporter to help OEM assess the overall impact to the neighborhood. Dial 3-1-1 to complete your damage survey over the phone.
Resources for residents who were affected
As of January 5, 2023 at 2 p.m.
Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) will handle damage claims based on the result of the incident investigation. Anyone filing a claim with PGW Risk must call 215-684-6535 or 6536 and they also will need to make a claim with their homeowners or auto insurance carrier, as well. Learn more here.
The American Red Cross remains on stand-by and ready to help. People impacted by this incident may call 1-800-RED-CROSS should they need assistance.
L&I home inspection requests
The City’s Department of Licenses and Inspections (L+I) will come out and do a home inspection for anyone that requests it. To request an inspection, residents should call 215-686-2480 or contact Philly 311. They must state that they are requesting an inspection because of the Miller Street explosion.
Philadelphia Neighborhood Home Preservation Loan Program
Restore, Repair, Renew is an initiative of the City of Philadelphia to help Philadelphia homeowners access low-interest loans to invest in their properties. People interested in this program may call 215-866-5200 or email rrr@clarifi.org for more information or to begin the eligibility screening process.
Insurance
Document damage by taking pictures. Make a list of all the items damaged. Save all receipts for any money spent during recovery.
Be aware of contractor scams. Signs of scams can include contractors being overly pushy or
demanding large payments up-front. Always get a written contract and ask for references before making a deal. Pennsylvanians should report scams to the Office of the Attorney General by calling 800-441-2555 or emailing scams@attorneygeneral.gov, or by filing a consumer complaint online. By reporting these scams, you are helping us protect others.
Pennsylvania Insurance Department Consumer Services: For insurance-related questions or help resolving an issue, the Consumer Service Bureau can help. They can be contacted online or via phone at 877-881-6388
Coping With Trauma
Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event, and trauma supports are available for anyone experiencing distress. Trauma can feel like:
- Heart racing or skipping
- Body aches
- Emotional swings
- Outburst of anger or rage
- Fear
- Depression
- Anxiety
- No energy
Support is available. If you, or another person, are in crisis and need emergency help, call the Philadelphia Crisis Line at (215) 685-6440. This line is open 24/7. If you are seeking mental health services and support, call 888545-2600 (24 hours) or visit dbhids.org/boost.
Healing from trauma is possible. Learn more about trauma and strategies for self-care and healing.
How you can help
As of January 5, 2023 at 2 p.m.
At this moment, there is no need for donations of any type for this response.
Continue to get updates
Text RECOVERPHL to 888-777 to get the latest updates and information sent straight to your phone.
This blog will be updated as more information becomes available.
