NW Austin explosion victims struggle with home insurance delays

AUSTIN, Texas — A powerful explosion tore through a quiet Northwest Austin neighborhood Sunday morning, flattening one home, damaging more than two dozen others, and sending six people to the hospital—two of them in critical condition.

Just before 11:30 a.m., emergency crews responded to reports of a house collapse and possible explosion on Double Spur Loop, near Yaupon Drive. The blast leveled a two-story home, left several others with major structural damage, and sent debris flying throughout the neighborhood.

“It shook like an earthquake—things fell off the walls,” said Ryan Leer, who lives just a few houses down from where the explosion happened.

Among the injured was a man who was inside the home at the time of the blast. His wife, Sara Felix, told CBS Austin that he suffered burns and was trapped under debris before being rescued. He remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Now, just a day later, what used to be a family’s dream home is nothing but splintered wood and twisted metal. Their car is still buried under the rubble.

As painful cleanup efforts begin, the families affected are left to wonder: Who’s going to pay for all of this?

The Leer family’s home was one of more than two dozen damaged in the explosion. Their home doors were blown open, and chandeliers now dangle precariously from their ceiling.

“I would imagine this is when you should have insurance,” Leer said. “And now they are almost being somewhat reluctant.”

Their biggest frustration? A lack of urgency.

MORE| Woman says her husband was inside NW Austin house when it exploded

“We’ve been told not to touch anything until the insurance company sends someone out,” he said. “So now, we’re just waiting and hoping that process speeds up.”

CBS Austin took those concerns to Shannon Martin, an insurance expert with Bankrate, who says most standard homeowners insurance policies do cover explosion-related damage. However, there’s a catch.

“In situations like this, where the cause of the explosion is still unknown, that can delay claims,” Martin explained. “Insurance companies need to determine whether it’s something that’s actually covered under the policy.”

And even when coverage is granted, families could be facing much higher costs than they expect.

“Inflation has really driven up the cost of home repairs and replacement materials,” Martin said.

So, while many families wait for answers from investigators and insurance adjusters, they’re also bracing for the price tag that may follow.

CBS Austin confirmed with the FBI that they were called in to assist in the initial investigation at the request of local law enforcement. However, at this time, officials say there is no indication that this was a criminal act.

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. Officials previously confirmed the destroyed home did not have active gas service through Texas Gas, but no definitive source has been identified yet.

Beyond the physical damage, neighbors say another issue has emerged: tragedy tourism.

People from outside the neighborhood have reportedly been driving and walking through the area to get a glimpse of the destruction—something residents say is both invasive and upsetting.

Cleanup crews also told CBS Austin that the foot traffic has made their work more difficult and distracting.

Now, neighbors are asking people to respect their privacy as they recover.

“This was a perfect Sunday that turned into a real tragedy very quickly,” Leer said.