LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Had this been a natural disaster, city, state and federal resources would be readily available to the people in Louisville's Clifton neighborhood.

But it was an explosion at a private company—Givaudan Sense Colour—that damaged private homeowners' property. The playbook for this kind of response is limited, and that has severely hampered the flow of information.

One of the greatest frustrations for residents has been the lack of coordination between agencies and stakeholders.

“This has been the one thing that I have found to be my biggest frustration,” said Hilary Ford. “No one is talking to each other. There is not one point person that knows what is going on with the city, with Givaudan, with the neighborhood. I don't feel like it is too much to ask for someone at the city to basically have this as their pet project.”

If frustration could be measured, Ford's would be at a ten.

“And I tend to have more information than half the people that are supposed to be informing me,” she added.

Almost every city department has had a role in the response to the Givaudan plant explosion, but there isn’t a single person centralizing that information. This lack of coordination has left residents in the dark about the recovery process.

Deputy Mayor Nicole George acknowledged the gaps in communication.

“It is clear, and I hear you loud and clear, that there is more we can be doing in the way of post-emergency response and community coordination," George said. "I hear you loud and clear.”

Searching for answers

After the explosion, neighbors wanted immediate answers. What caused the blast? It was a cooking vessel that lacked a pressure valve. But beyond that, they had more concerns—unanswered questions about odors, runoff during snow and rain, declining property values, frustrations with insurance companies and, above all, whether the area was still safe.

One of the key issues raised was air quality.

“First of all, if you are calling, we trust you smell something—right? Nobody would waste their time. If you are not feeling validated, we could be doing something better, and I'm sorry,” said George.

IMAGES | Crews begin cleanup at Givaudan site in Louisville's Clifton neighborhood

What’s next?

The plant is being demolished, and for now, it remains under tight security. However, the question lingers: what happens once it’s gone?

Metro Councilmember Andrew Owens, D-9, mentioned that the city may attempt to take ownership of the property once the demolition is complete. Deputy Mayor David James added that conversations with Givaudan’s corporate leadership had not gone well, though he declined to provide details.

For now, Clifton residents are left with more questions than answers. They continue to demand transparency, accountability and a clear plan for what’s next. In the absence of strong leadership and communication, they must rely on each other to piece together information and push for action.

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