A neighbor reflects on what might have been.
There were still plenty of gawkers Thursday eyeing up the missing tooth that an explosion tore from Filmore Street in Phillipsburg five days earlier.
But life was returning to a degree of normalcy on the block that's likely lucky to still be there after a blast destroyed 74-76 Filmore St.
The adjacent homes at 78-80 Filmore St. won't have to be demolished, officials said. But there's plenty of work to be done. Many of the windows are boarded up and next door at 82 Filmore St., the front porch roof was damaged from falling debris.
A disaster remediation truck was parked Thursday outside 78 Filmore St.
People were moving into the left side of the double when the blast happened, neighbor Joan Lake said. She said she initially thought their moving truck exploded since it wasn't there moments after.
Two first-floor windows in a home three doors down blew out in the concussion of the blast, but the storm windows stayed intact, Lake said.
They lost nearly all they had in P'burg blast
Debris -- siding, nails, wood -- reached several doors down, Lake said.
What did it sound like? Like the loudest clap of thunder you've ever heard, times 10, Lake said. But there was no continuing rumble. Just an overpowering moment of noise and then nothing.
Lake said she was cleaning her bird cages and taking care of several dogs when the buildings blew, so she had to calm the calamity inside her home before heading to the door.
The neighborhood reacted in a flash as Clay Metzger, who lived in the apartment where the explosion originated, staggered across Filmore Street and fell to his hands and knees, she said.
Emergency personnel were there in less than four minutes, Lake said, doing what she said was an amazing job. She had tried to call 911 -- twice -- but the power was out and her phone didn't work.
Lake said she didn't smell natural gas, but several people reported smelling it in the wake of the explosion. Because of that, she and other neighbors were instructed to go to the nearby Freeman School, where she stayed until about midnight.
Metzger was reported to be in critical condition at Lehigh Valley Hospital as the investigation continues. Authorities have not speculated on or identified a cause.
Lake said the results could have been so much worse. She marveled that there was no fire and at the debris that dangled from the damaged homes.
Lake said she's not very religious, but when she looked up the block and wondered about what might have been, she quietly suggested perhaps a higher power intervened.
Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.