It will take awhile for families to return to their homes on Bates and Riverside streets, the two hardest-hit areas. For a few, the homecoming may never happen because their homes may have to be razed.

"Four to five homes (on Bates Street) appear to be compromised," said Danvers Town Manager Wayne Marquis, who spoke to the press in a makeshift media center set up in the New England Home for the Deaf, a building across the Danvers River that also suffered damage.

For many residents, however, a return to normal - or some semblance of it - may be within sight.

"I would hope that within a few days we would allow people to go back into the homes that can be occupied," Marquis said.

A determination will be made today on when gas and electricity can be safely restored.

"It could begin on Friday, but it will be done on a limited, house-by-house basis," Marquis said.

With streets fenced off and barricades everywhere, residents appealed yesterday to public safety officials to let them make brief visits back home. Some had been allowed into their homes Wednesday night to retrieve items, but many had not been back.

Holly Gould, 31, and Joshua Drennan, 33, wanted to go back to their apartment at 7 Bates St. to search for their two cats. They have not seen the pets since the 2:46 a.m. explosion at CAI Inc. and Arnel, the chemical companies that shared a large building at 126 Water St. The blast rocked this neighborhood and was heard across the North Shore.

Searching for pets

"With all the rubble, we couldn't find the cats," Gould said of Morrigan, an 8-year-old Manx with long gray hair, and Kishy, a 10-year-old black cat.

"When something scares them, they hide under things," she said, "so we think they're still inside. ... Both the cats have never been outside."

Town officials, who earlier said they were not aware of any pets left behind, allowed the couple to stand outside their damaged building, one of the houses deemed structurally unsafe, and call the cats' names. It is not known if the cats were found.

The couple escaped with their dog, Kyaio, a 12-year-old Belgian sheepdog, but left almost everything else behind. And they said they have no renter's insurance.

"We decided not to renew it," Gould said, "because we have no flood (coverage), and we decided that the only thing that could happen down there was a flood."

Melissa Surawski, 26, had an unusual dilemma that had a happy ending. A graduate student at the University of New Hampshire, she had left her passport at her parents' home at 18 Bates St. and was flying to France last night. After waiting a few hours yesterday for approval to enter the "war zone," she was allowed into the house and found her passport right where she had left it.

"It's in my dresser drawer," she said.

Unnoticed injuries

Many residents were noticing injuries yesterday that they didn't realize they had. Mark McDermott, 35, who lived at 3 Bates St., right next to the blast site, discovered bruises and cuts on one side of his body. But he just shook it off.

"My health is fine," he said. "I've got some glass on my feet I have to take care of."

McDermott likely got the glass shards when he and a friend ran barefoot over to 1 Bates St. to help Deborah Riva escape with her dog.

"We could hear our neighbor yelling for help," he said. "She couldn't open her door (which was blocked by debris) while holding her dog." The two men grabbed the dog and helped move the debris.

Even though many of the homes in Danversport are empty, town officials said the site is secure. A total of 100 homes were boarded up - all but the five on Bates Street that have been deemed too dangerous to enter.

"We have actually gone in and locked those homes that are boarded up," Marquis said.

The 12 people transported to area hospitals - 10 due to the blast and two for health issues compounded by the emergency - did not suffer major injuries, officials said.

"To the best of my knowledge, nobody remains in the hospital," Marquis said.

Five firefighters suffered minor injuries, according to Danvers Deputy fire Chief Kevin Farrell.

Help center to open

Residents affected by the explosion are being directed to Town Hall today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Federal, state and local officials will set up stations to answer questions.

It will still be awhile before vehicles can drive though this area, a main thoroughfare to Peabody and Salem. There are barricades at several points along Water Street.

"The roadway will remain closed at least until Monday," said Danvers police Chief Neil Ouellette. Water Street is closed from Endicott to South Liberty streets, he said.

Gov.-elect Deval Patrick is expected to visit the site today, according to Danvers state Rep. Ted Speliotis.

"He doesn't want to get in the way, and he doesn't want to be disrespectful - that's why he didn't come (Wednesday)," Speliotis said.

Marquis said he expects Danversport to be declared a disaster area, which should help residents and businesses get help.

"We're hoping for some form of federal and state relief to assist our residents," he said.