click to read full story from fox news
SAN BRUNO, CALIF. – Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said Monday it was establishing a $100 million fund for the victims of a huge gas pipeline explosion that left at least four dead.
The money was intended to help victims meet their day-to-day needs and would be provided with no strings attached, said Chris Johns, president of PG&E.
"It is very important that this community know that there are funds, enough funds, to be able to rebuild their lives and this community," Johns said.
The news of the fund came as residents began returning to the ruined hillsides of their suburban San Francisco neighborhood Sunday after Thursday's pipeline blast and fire destroyed at least 37 homes and damaged dozens of others.
One of the returning residents, Patrick Yu, says he has nightmares and headaches since a fireball from the natural gas explosion caused his ceiling to crash down next to him while he slept.
Authorities said Sunday that the death toll is likely to climb in the massive natural gas explosion that rocked San Bruno, Calif., as the coroner examines additional remains found over the weekend. Officials have so far confirmed four deaths in the explosion and fire.
The tragedy has prompted California regulators to order the utility, Pacific Gas and Electric, to survey all its natural gas lines in the state in hopes of heading off another disaster
Returning residents, meanwhile, were wearing wristbands that show police they live in the area.
Yu said he crouched in the doorway after the blast, thinking he was in the middle of an earthquake. When the shaking subsided, he found that the heat had warped the door so much he had to pull with all his strength to get out of the bedroom.
The 62-year-old learned Sunday that his house had been red-tagged, meaning it has extensive damage and will require closer inspection before authorities can declare it safe.
"I have lots of memories in that house," Yu said. "Lots of stuff you can't replace."
A few blocks away, houses have collapsed into black and white debris on ground, with a smell like charcoal in the air. All that remain standing is a row of brick chimneys, while across the street, some homes are undamaged.
Pat and Roger Haro fared better. They and their dog, Rosie, have been living in a hotel room since Thursday after fleeing their home with the clothes they were wearing, dog food, water and an iPad.
When they returned, their home was marked with a green tag — indicating less damage than others with yellow or red tags — and their electricity was still off.
"Once I saw the house was still there then I felt a whole lot better," Pat Haro said. "I think we'll be a tighter community."
Investigators were still trying to confirm just how many people died.
The remains of at least four people have been found, and authorities have said four are missing and at least 60 injured, some critically. Two people reported missing after blast were located Sunday, city spokeswoman Robyn Thaw said.
San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault said they're still trying to confirm whether some of the remains they found are human and identify victims.
At a church service at St. Robert's Catholic Church on Sunday morning, the Rev. Vincent Ring conducted a prayer for the victims.
"We turn to God and we ask for mercy upon all our brothers who are hurting so badly, whose lives have changed so drastically and whose help is so badly need from us," Ring said.
Local and federal officials are probing the cause of the explosion that blew a segment of pipe 28 feet long onto the street some 100 feet away, creating a crater 167 feet long and 26 feet wide.
