LAUDERHILL, FLA. (WSVN) - Residents of a home heavily damaged by a collapsed crane in Lauderhill got the opportunity to view the full extent of the damage for the first time.
The house that received the most damage is now crane free, Friday afternoon, but according to Lauderhill Fire Rescue, the structure is a total loss.
Lauderhill Fire Rescue provided photographs of extensive damage inside the home.
“The one house is a complete loss,” said Lauderhill Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Levy. “There’s no way they’re going to be able to live in it for quite some time and quite honestly, it’ll probably be demolished.”
Escorted by police, the family of six who live there had the chance to view the damage for the first time, Friday.
“It could’ve been worse. It could’ve been worse,” said homeowner Glennise Charles as she wiped away tears.
Officials said the crane came crashing down on Wednesday, slamming into two homes on Northwest 11th Street and 43rd Terrace.
The family in the home that sustained the most damage is now trying to salvage whatever they can.
“We got things. Everything is wet. We just took them how it is,” said Charles, but the furniture, we can’t take any of that.”
However, she is also grateful no one got hurt. “What could have happened to me if I was in the bedroom?” said Charles. “My kids are always in the room with me, always, until it’s time to go to bed. I have to rush them out to go to bed.”
Crews began removing the crane Thursday, a process which bled into Friday afternoon.
“Last night, about 8 p.m. or 9 p.m., they were able to remove the boom, which is that extension piece that was laying on top of the house,” Levy said. “They were successfully able to get it off the house and remove it from the base of the crane.”
Nearby residents expressed their frustration with the removal efforts.
“It’s a little annoying. You can’t get out of your car and stuff. It’s just sucks. I mean two small kids and no water kind of really sucks,” said resident Brianna Benson, referring to damage to a water main from the crane collapse that has affected her house and others in the area.
Benson said her water has been disconnected while crews work to repair the damage. However, she said, officials estimate her water will be restored at some point Friday.
Despite the damage and being displaced, the residents of the home feel grateful the incident wasn’t worse.
“I just thank God first. I just thank Him first because if it wasn’t for Him, I don’t think that my nephew could have survived,” the homeowner said.
The Lauderhill utility crew is working on restoring water to the 11 homes currently without it. “They’re saying it’s going to come back, hopefully today when they tip the crane over,” said Benson.
Friday afternoon, crews brought in a larger crane to pick up the base of the crane that remains by the damaged house.
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