Good Samaritans Step in After Heavy Rain Displaces Manhole Cover

Update: May 21, 5:28 p.m.: We heard back from the city's Department of Environmental Protection, which confirmed that indeed, the manhole was displaced by "a sewer backup," and was replaced this afternoon.   

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Patch reader Eustace Greaves Jr. uploaded these photos of an open manhole on Underhill Avenue this morning.

He said he was driving in the torrential downpour oat about 9:20 a.m. when, at the corner of Underhill Avenue and Prospect Place, he saw water rise up out of a manhole so strongly that it lifted the cover completely off.

"The water was pouring out of the sewer," said Greaves, who owns on Bergen Street. "The manhole cover was floating on the water, the force of the water was so strong," he said.

Luckily for drivers and pedestrians alike, Good Samaritans stepped in, surrounding the open hole with traffic cones and trash cans.

(Ah Prospect Heighters, the best people in the world.)

According to the National Weather Service (via wunderground.com) as of 12:09 p.m. today, Crown Heights had received 1.73 inches of rainfall. 

How can this happen? Can water in the sewer really get so strong from flooding that it lifts a mega-heavy manhole cover? We've contacted the DOT to get more details. Meanwhile, does anyone know if the manhole cover has been replaced?

Greaves uploaded the photos to our "Pics and Clips" section, along with a bunch of other really nice ones. Have a great photo of the neighborhood? Upload it to keep our community photo album going.

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