International Towers residents speak on experience since evacuation

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Demolition of the Realty Building in downtown Youngstown continues.

When it gets to the fourth floor, the evacuation notice for more than 150 residents of the International Towers will be lifted.

Over 170 residents are still out of their homes, in desperate need of items and accessibility to their homes.

The displacement has taken a toll on their mental health.

Many residents declined to speak on camera but all shared the sentiment that they’re excited to get back home.

Living in small hotel rooms has made it difficult to feel comfortable, prepare any food or move around.

Many of them stay outside on nice days or anywhere else to get more space.

Rendie Kaufman spoke with me on camera; she says while displacement is hard she’s glad they’re all away from the Realty Tower.

“We were looking at it every day for nine days after the [explosion],” Kaufman said. “Before they evacuated us, we were in that building just watching, just keep looking at that building and it’s just like ‘how can you guys not do anything yet?'”

Despite how hard living in hotels has been, each resident said they were grateful for all the organizations that have kept a roof over their heads, food, transportation to and from work and as much comfort as possible.

“We’re all excited, even the ones not staying [at the hotel],” Kaufman said. “I keep in touch with them, and they just all just want to go home. We all just want to go home to where our comfort is.”

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