Nearly two months after the deadly natural gas explosion inside the Realty Building in downtown Youngstown, newly released 911 audio shows the chaos of that day, and how delays by the Youngstown Water Department and FirstEnergy hampered rescue attempts to get inside that building.

On May 28, workers inside the Realty Building cut into a pressurized abandoned natural gas line in the basement area of the building, according to a preliminary finding by the National Transporation Safety Board investigating the incident. 

The nearly 100-year-old structure was the home to Chase Bank as well as residents who lived above the bank.

21 News obtained 911 recordings of the conversations between dispatchers and emergency officials that uncovered concerns over response delays by public utilities and how it was believed to have impacted the rescue efforts of those trapped inside.  

The cut into the pressurized line led to the initial 911 calls, the first being around 2:40 pm regarding a fire pull station alarm, but quickly changed to the smell of natural gas followed by the deadly explosion. 

At 2:44 pm, the following exchange includes portions of a call between a 911 operator and an ambulance dispatcher. 

911 operator: "We need more ambulances going downtown for the explosion that just happened."

Ambulance dispatcher: "I'm sorry you need what?"

Operator: "Multiple ambulances going downtown..."

Dispatcher: "How many?"

Operator:"I'm not sure, they just requested extra. Some type of explosion or something that happened."

Dispatcher: "We don't know how many victims?"

Operator: "...[Send] as many [ambulances] as you have, as many as you have." 

The first report of water flooding the basement was placed to the Youngstown Water Department at 3:18 pm, stating the water level was proceeding up to the first floor.

The first call to get electricity shut off to the building was placed by 911 dispatch at 3:11 pm.

Youngstown fire dispatcher: 
"...We have a critical incident downtown. We need somebody as soon as possible to pull service, both 44 and 47 of East Federal." "...like I said, this is an emergency. We had an explosion."

Ohio Edison dispatcher:
"OK. Sorry to hear about that. Let me pull up that address..."
"...Are first energy facilities blocking the road there causing a road closure?"
"...Is there a need for different access?"

Youngstown fire dispatch: 
"...I don't know. I don't have that info right now..."
"...This is crisis mode. I'm just going to say yes to everything."

Ohio Edison dispatcher:
"OK. What's the traffic volume?"

Youngstown fire dispatcher: 
"High-traffic area..."
"...They're going to let Ohio Edison through."

Ohio Edison dispatcher: 
"OK, got it..."

Youngstown fire dispatcher:
"...This is like a major emergency."

Ohio Edison dispatcher: 
"...I'm sorry, what blew up?"

Youngstown fire dispatcher:
"There was an explosion in a building. It was a multi-floor building..."

Ohio Edison dispatcher:
"...So we just need to make sure to remove that service right?"

Youngstown fire dispatcher:
"Yes, as soon as possible."

Approximately one hour and 43 minutes after the first call came in, emergency crews were still unable to get into the lower levels of the building due to rising water and the electricity was still on.

An hour and 18 minutes after the call to Ohio Edison, crews were still not on the scene to kill power and first responders called again. 

During a 20-minute call with Ohio Edison, the company dispatcher told Youngstown 911 dispatch that an Ohio Edison crew had been there, but had issues getting to the scene as the roads were “all blocked off.”

Ohio Edison dispatcher:
"...Since the whole area was blocked off, they [Ohio Edison crews] had a hard time getting access to the building."

Youngstown fire dispatcher:
"OK ma'am, I don't know if there's a supervisor I can talk to but they may have somebody trapped underwater. This has been an hour and 20 minutes now waiting for Ohio Edison to respond to turn off electric to this building where there has been an explosion. There's part of a building missing. This is a critical incident. We need someone to respond...yesterday." 

"...For a crew to say that because they couldn't get passed emergency vehicles is unacceptable."

Ohio Edison dispatcher:
"No problem. I completely understand..."

Youngstown fire dispatcher: 
"...May I speak with a supervisor please?"

The Youngstown 911 dispatcher was on hold for approximately 13 minutes waiting to speak to a supervisor, but the Ohio Edison employee explained that no on-call supervisors were responding to the Ohio Edison dispatcher's calls.

Youngstown fire dispatch:
"No supervisors available at all?"

Ohio Edison dispatcher: 
"...Unfortunately with the call volume today, since we were closed yesterday, they are pretty busy. I haven't gotten a response yet."

When asked for a new ETA, the employee stated it was showing another 45-minute wait.

At about 5 pm, Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley called fire dispatch.

"You need to tell Ohio Edison that we need them out here right now," Finley said. 

At about the same time, an FBI special agent called Ohio Edison.

"In the future, you guys [Ohio Edison] are going to have to fix that," the FBI agent said, "It's unacceptable to have them [Ohio Edison] here and leave on a scene like this." 

At 6:22 pm, more than three hours after the initial call, an Ohio Edison supervisor did return the 911 calls.

21 News asked FirstEnergy, which owns Ohio Edison, for a response to the concerns expressed in the emergency calls and an explanation as to why Ohio Edison did not turn off the electricity sooner. 

FirstEnergy said in a statement, "Ohio Edison takes its role in emergency response very seriously. The company will continue to cooperate fully with authorities investigating the incident."

The Youngstown Realty Building explosion severely injured seven people and killed 27-year-old Akil Drake.

Drake's body was found in the basement of the building.