The Online Reflector

Around 11 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10, an explosion occurred in the Richmond Hill neighborhood on the South side of Indianapolis near South Sherman Drive and Stop 11 Road. The explosion affected over 80 homes, leveling two homes, leaving at least 27 others to be declared uninhabitable and forcing around 200 people out of their homes.

The cause of the explosion has not been confirmed. However, Indianapolis Homeland Security Director Gary Coons announced Tuesday that investigators believe natural gas is involved. They currently are in the process of recovering appliances from the destroyed homes to confirm the cause, he said.

The explosion happened approximately six miles away from the University of Indianapolis campus. UIndy President Robert Manuel did not feel the explosion from his home, but was informed through social media.

“We were at home but I didn’t feel it. I heard about it through Twitter at first, saw a couple of tweets about it, then I went online and the news started to come,” Manuel said.

Manuel knew that many UIndy community members lived around that area and was worried about their safety.

“I hoped everybody [in Richmond Hills] was OK. I know we have a lot of community members that live on the South side. I was worried for them. And worried for the people affected,” Manuel said.

Two people were confirmed dead as a result of the explosion. Jennifer Longworth, a second grade teacher at Southwest Elementary School, and her husband, John Longworth, are believed to be dead. A candlelight vigil was held Sunday night outside of Jennifer’s school. Greenwood schools had a two-hour delay on Monday.

Seven more people were treated for injuries that were caused by the explosion.

Relief efforts started immediately after the first reports of the explosions. Richmond Hill residents were evacuated to Mary Bryan Elementary on Stop 11 Road. The Red Cross set up the school as their relief site. People were encouraged to drop off supplies at their nearest fire station.

Requested supplies included baby supplies, such as baby food, diapers and wipes and pet food.

Richmond Hill residents were later taken to Southport Presbyterian Church.

Manuel and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Kory Vitangeli both sent emails on Sunday that advised the members of the campus community on how to help with relief efforts.

“Our community outreach office, which is lead by [Associate Vice President of Community Relations] David Wantz, got in touch with homeland security, got in touch with the mayor’s office and got in touch with the school system down in the township there [in Southport,]” he said. “We [UIndy] had Kory Vitangeli identifying students, staff and faculty who were affected on the area and seeing if they can provided any services to them.”

According to Vitangeli, university officials are aware of one former faculty member, one staff member and four students who have been affected by the explosion.

Vitangeli said the best way to help currently is to donate cash or gift cards from stores such as Walmart or Target. These items can be brought to the Office of Student Affairs in Schwitzer Student Center, Room 209.

Though the Office of Student Affairs just started collecting donations, Vitangeli said there was a good response. She has not yet counted the monetary value, but said many gift cards and monetary donations were given.

The donations are being collected for the family of two UIndy students.

“When I had communicated with all the individuals [who were affected by the explosion], I asked them if there was anything they needed, if there was any way the university could assist them. And most of them said that really they were doing fine, and they were more concerned about helping people who had lost everything. They had very minor damage,” Vitangeli said. “So right now, the drive is really for the family that has lost everything. Certainly, if other needs come forward at a later time, we’ll of course help where we can.”

Manuel said he was moved by the sense of community he felt and saw following the explosion.

“I want to articulate the good feeling as a new person to the community that I get form seeing entire community coming together when there is tragedy like this,” he said. “It just goes to show that the hospitality spirit and that spirit of caring about others, which is part of our education mission, is alive and well in all the people who live in Indianapolis and Indiana. It’s just very heart-warming.”