May 25, 2008
Major Water Main Break Leaves Village Flooded
If you're walking home through the West Village tonight, you may be wishing you'd brought your galoshes, or waders, or a rowboat. A major water main break on West 10th St. has flooded the area surrounding it. Reader Erik Dane ( of The Foggy Monocle) sent us this on-the-spot photo of West 4th completely underwater. He reports that cops and firemen are swarming the area to get the situation under control.
So if you're reading this while out and your cabbie recommends taking a shortcut up or down West 4th on your way home, DON'T DO IT! unless you usually go out with a snorkel and swim fins.
Erik also tells us that cops are saying that the flood extends as far as the eye can see, or as far as 7th Ave. Basement apartments are in obvious trouble. The situation looks dire for people who can afford to live in Manhattan's quaintest erstwhile-bohemian neighborhood.
| 
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
email this
add to facebook
add to del.icio.us
surf's up, broseph.
Ladies and gentlemen, now more than ever is the time to grab yourself a sailor or Marine on a Saturday night. Those people know how to operate in the water.
I can't wait to see how many rats get flushed out from the basements :-)
We were in fat cat last night on Christopher - when it started to flood they evacuated. Water was coming in very quickly, by the time they got everyone out there were probably a few inches in the whole bar area.
If street level looks like that picture now, I have to imagine the whole place is underwater, they probably won't be able to open for a long while
When it's high tide along Christopher St., it's time to break out the swishing gear.
Neighborhood Update!
I live on W4 & W10 and work around the corner at Fat Cat. I looked out my window at 11:30 to see a river--rapids and all--rushing down W10 and onto my block of W4--big adventure!
Fat Cat was indeed ankle-deep in water that literally burst in through the wall not long after the break. Amazingly, after rolling up our pants and wading around to save the instruments and [most of] the furniture, having a few dumb-struck beers as we surveyed the catastrophe, and a few of us shacking up on pool tables for the night, we were able to get the club up and running again less than 24 hours later! Mad ups to Ben, Charlie (& his nephews), Danny, Vincente, Mike, Noah, Doris, Carlos, Jade, and Deke for making it happen.
Feeling bummed about missing the excitement? Check out these pictures.