NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Metro officials met with business owners and residents on Sunday morning to discuss the timeline for allowing them to return to Second Avenue N.
More than 41 buildings near Second Avenue N. were damaged. Much of the area has been closed off as the investigation continues and residents and business owners have not yet been able to return.
There are 250 FBI agents in Nashville sifting through the rubble to uncover evidence from the explosion.
At a press conference on Monday night, MNPD Deputy Chief Chris Taylor explained the timeline for reopening that area.
Watch the press conference below:
Once the FBI releases an area, meaning it has been removed from the bureau's active investigation, public works and structural engineers will inspect the building.
Public works will remove debris and put in fencing to restrict movement for safety purposes, then Metro codes will inspect the area with engineers who will determine if a building is safe enough to walk through.
After that step, the area is turned over to the fire and police department who will escort business owners and residents.
There will be a six-hour window for a group of about 20 business owners, residents and landowners to inspect the area on Tuesday. Those who are allowed to return have already been notified.
Metro police said it could be another seven days before the area is opened back up for business owners and residents. They will be contacted individually for information on when they can return to the area.
The FBI's victims services will supply counseling, help with relocation and help with paperwork to make a claim for restitution for those impacted by the explosion.
Taylor said the pictures do not fully show the extent of the damage.
"Even if you've seen it in pictures and from a drone, it doesn't encompass it because it's hard to realize this happened in Nashville," Taylor said. "It's very disheartening, it really hurts you to see it in your own city, especially in the middle of it like it is."
