Over the Weekend, a Flood on Carroll Street
[nggallery id=”22443″ template=galleryview] After the heavy rains on Saturday afternoon around three feet of rain collected on a section of Carroll Street, causing thousands of dollars in damages to a business and flooding several basements. The flooding was blamed on malfunctioning catch basins next to two developments that caused rainwater to cross 4th avenue and…
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After the heavy rains on Saturday afternoon around three feet of rain collected on a section of Carroll Street, causing thousands of dollars in damages to a business and flooding several basements. The flooding was blamed on malfunctioning catch basins next to two developments that caused rainwater to cross 4th avenue and settle on the western corner of Carroll. The water only pooled for about 15 minutes, but that was enough time to do serious damage. It’s not the first time Carroll between 3rd and 4th has seen a deluge over the past year: The street witnessed a similar event after the tornado last August, when a few feet of water took a couple hours to properly drain. “They said they took care of it, and here we go again,” said Joanne Amitrano, who manages three buildings on Carroll between 3rd and 4th avenues. Amitrano had been in contact with city officials and the DEP after the hurricane flood, and only last week DEP officials told her that the catch basins on the block were in working order—which they were, though the ones across 4th Avenue had evidently filled with construction debris, sending what Amitrano calls “a wave” across the street. The building on the corner of Carroll houses the new coffee shop Root Hill Cafe, and its owners had to hire a crew on Sunday to suck out water from the basement, where all its supplies are stored. Root Hill wasn’t open for business yesterday and its owners say they’re facing tens of thousands of dollars in damages. Small consolation: Sunday’s storms didn’t result in flooding.
Update: Gowanus Lounge has photos of flooding on 9th Street, closer to the canal, and Curbed shows the two waterlogged streets side by side.
I have lived in NYC for most of my life and the years we do not have drought, we usually have lots of severe thunderstorms. They tend to roll in around the afternoon rush hour and flood the streets. Especially where the drains are clogged with debris. The veteran New Yorker who lives or runs a shop near a drain has his drain stick on hand to push away the debris during one of our nearly daily summer squalls.
I think there is more media now to make us hysterical about rain storms, but not more rain storms.
I have to say that after countless phone calls to the 311 abyss, community board 6 meetings and being in contact with the DEP on a regular basis on this matter,I am disgusted by the lack of concern and action by the city.I was told of all the millions awarded for improvements along 4th avenue …Where is it??????????Are they saving it to pay off the lawsuits from not doing the work??I agree that many catch basins look filled and nasty.I passed 8th street and 5th ave ,in front of the clothing store and it looks like a small dumping pit.The issue on 4th ave and Carroll is the most pressing,it needs immediate attention.
HEY MARTY LOOKS LIKE PARK AVENUE
I agree with Brooklyn native – I happened to be driving along 4h ave during the downpour and was worried our car would get flooded. The lack of street cleaning was the first thing that came to my mind. The streets of park slope (all uphill from 4th Avenue) have not been cleaned in almost 6 weeks due to the change in parking regulations. More than litter, it’s mainly be leaves and twigs (at least on my block). The sewer grate at the end of my block is completely coated over and clogged with mud now.
The problem was clearly exacerbated by the lack of street cleaning. I went out after the storm and the corner sewage drains were completly covered up and blocked by the garbage from the streets that have not been cleaned in weeks.
Very common problem around construction sites – mainly because these idiots put everything they can down the (wide) drains.
As for Root Hill – they probably have a couple of nice lawsuits but frankly the service in that place is horrible – I went 2x and I cant bare it anymore – that plus its on the ‘wrong side’ of 4th means it likely is doomed.
I think the dumbass residents of brooklyn need to stop dropping litter all over the place
This City has been, figuratively, and now quite literally, circling the drain.
What the hell is going on? The sewer grates all over Brooklyn are looking pretty clogged up to me.
I think the taxpayers have been getting shafted on a little thing called “routine maintenance.”
I really feel for business and home owners…
9:23
I agree. Heavy down pours that seem to flood the system (and flood cellars) seem to be more common. I was just having the same conversation with my wife. It’s either the effect of global weather changes. Or not proper management of the sewer system in parts of this area. Or maybe a combination of both. I have been waiting to finish my cellar so that I can make use of the space. But that may not happen.