MEC&F Expert Engineers : 05/06/17

Saturday, May 6, 2017

South Coast Gas Co. employee 63-year-old Kim McGee electrocuted to death in Lockport, LA after touching high voltage lines


LOCKPORT, LA


A gas company worker was electrocuted by a downed power line Thursday afternoon in Lockport and died, authorities said.

According to Lafourche Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Brennan Matherne, deputies responded shortly after 4:45 p.m. to the 700 block of East Main Street after receiving reports that a South Coast Gas Co. employee had been electrocuted while working on a job site.


“Upon arrival to the scene, first responders found him lying unresponsive and lying near the electrical line,” Matherne said. “Based on eyewitness descriptions, it became apparent he had come into contact with an active electrical line.”

The man, identified as 63-year-old Kim McGee of Raceland, was in the process of locating a gas line so Entergy technicians could repair some power lines that had been blown down during a thunderstorm late Tuesday night, South Coast Gas Co. President Michael St. Romain said.

“He was locating our gas lines so that Entergy could replace a broken pole,” St. Romain said. “There were some wires that he came into contact with that were not isolated. When he came into contact with those wires, it killed him.”

The power lines were all too familiar to Sampey Fabrication owner Ross Sampey, who said he’s made numerous attempts to have the utility pole relocated because it posed a danger to his employees.

“The tragedy happened right in front of my facility Thursday afternoon,” Sampey said. “The night prior to the incident, one of our power lines broke because of the bad wind and weather. One of my employees at my machine shop next door came in at 4:30 in the morning and contacted me and Entergy about the power line being down. It was still hot and live. Someone needed to address the problem because it was certainly a hazard.”

Despite calling Entergy four times, no one from the utility company showed up to address the problem, Sampey said.

“Then Entergy called South Coast Gas for them to come out to mark the gas lines because they probably needed to reset the utility pole,” Sampey said. “One of my guys told me there was about 60,000 volts coming off that pole.”


By not disconnecting the power before contacting South Coast Gas, the utility company needlessly exposed McGee to a hazardous situation, Sampey said.


“It took 18 minutes for Entergy to come after the man had died to disconnect the power,” Sampey said. “This whole tragedy could have been avoided months ago because I contacted Entergy about moving those powerlines. They ended up sending me a quote for $53,000 just to move them. Now people want to hear my voice because someone lost his life. It shouldn’t have ever come to this. It’s not a good situation.”

Entergy spokesperson Amber Ferchaud said the company was looking into the incident but declined to comment further until the investigation had been completed.

McGee’s untimely death has left his South Coast Gas coworkers shaken and heartbroken. The company, which has been in operation since 1945, had never experienced such a tragedy in its 72-year history, company officials said.

Headquartered in Raceland, South West Gas serves more than 19,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Lafourche, Terrebonne and Assumption parishes and has 32 employees, according to the company’s website.

McGee, who had worked as a locator and cathodic protection specialist, had worked for the gas company for 45 years and was instrumental to its daily operations, St. Romain said.

“He was a very respected and likeable employee,” St. Romain said. “He had many other responsibilities as well. He protected all of the gas lines from corrosion, which is a very important job. He also provided a lot of knowledge and training to the younger employees.”

McGee’s autopsy was scheduled for this evening, the Lafourche Parish Coroner’s Office said.

The exterior portion of a a building under construction collapsed in Riverside, CA and damaged some equipment including a Pettibone lift











RIVERSIDE: No injuries reported after structural collapse at construction site

By Trevor Montgomery on May 5, 2017


RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA – 



A structural collapse of a building under construction brought emergency first responders rushing to the location Wednesday afternoon, May 3. The collapse happened at a construction site in the unincorporated area of Riverside, west of I-215 on Meridian Parkway, according to fire officials.

Riverside County firefighters, sheriff’s deputies and other emergency first responders rushed to the scene of the accident, after emergency dispatchers received several 911 calls from citizens reporting an incident involving a structural collapse.

Twenty firefighters from three engine companies and one truck company responded to the structural collapse just after 2 p.m., according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire spokeswoman Jody Hagemann said in a written incident report. They were assisted by an urban search and rescue team.

“When firefighters arrived they located the exterior portion of a framed building that had (become) compromised and collapsed,” Hagemann explained. “The collapse damaged some equipment including a Pettibone lift.”

Cal Fire officials estimated that approximately 60 construction workers were working on the building when the collapse happened.

“Ten workers (were) working in the immediate area,” where the collapse happened, according to officials. “All escaped injury,” according to officials.

Firefighters immediately began search and rescue operations to determine if any victims were missing and to search for any victims, if necessary. Search and Rescue Team members quickly determined no workers were injured or trapped within the collapsed structure.

Cal/Osha personnel responded to the scene to assist with investigating the cause of the accident.

Their investigation into the collapse is active and ongoing.

NO SUVs FOR OLD MEN: An elderly auto auction employee drove an SUV through a massive crowd that killed three and hospitalized nine at Lynnway Auto Auctions in Billerica





BILLERICA, Mass. - An elderly auto auction employee drove an SUV through a massive crowd and slammed into a cinder block wall this morning, in an apparent "tragic accident" that killed three and hospitalized nine, the Middlesex district attorney said.

One man and two women were killed in the gruesome 10:15 a.m. crash at Lynnway Auto Auctions in Billerica, District Attorney Marian T. Ryan said today. Eight other people were seriously injured, including two with life-threatening injuries, Ryan siad, and one relative of a person who was killed was hospitalized for stress.
 

The driver, who is in his 70s, was not hospitalized, Ryan said. He was driving a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

"As this vehicle began to enter the building, following a pace behind the car in front of it, it suddenly accelerated, traveled through the inside of the building at a high rate of speed, striking numerous people and ultimately was brought to a halt by crashing into a cinder block wall at the far end," Ryan said.

Auction attendee Doc Kagan, who runs an auto service and sales company in Revere, described the impact.

“It sounded like a bomb went off -- people laying out on the floor in front of the car, people from the auction yelling for people to get outside,” said Kagan, who had just walked past one of the seven or eight auction lanes in the building when he heard the collision. The SUV accelerated and ran through a crowd before ramming into a car that had already been sold off before hitting a wall, he said.

“All of the sudden I heard this huge — I thought it was a bomb — it went through the brick wall and it hit another car waiting to leave," Kagan said. "There were people in front of it and people behind."

“The sight wasn’t right. Blood was coming out of someone’s head on the floor,” he added.

Kagan said he ran out of the building as instructed.

“Too bad from a day’s work, people are ending up getting injured, hurt or worse,” said Kagan, who regularly attends the weekly auction.

Four patients were taken to Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, including one who died, a doctor said.

The patients were men and women ranging in ages from 30s to 60s, Dr. Casper Reske-Nielsen said. Two are currently in critical condition and the third is stable.

"One of the patients is in the operating room right now," he said. "(They) have a long road ahead of them."

Auction attendee Geraldo Lima, 46 of Somerville, estimated about 2,000 people were inside when the Jeep zipped about three feet from him, mowing down people for about 80 yards before slamming into a concrete wall with such force it cracked it.

"I saw the Jeep Cherokee driving through people," he said. "I was right next to the car -- I jumped away."

"I heard a lot of people screaming, yelling and then running from the accident. There was a lot of blood. ... It was so fast," Lima said.

People screamed and writhed in pain for minutes, Lima said. Once medics arrived, he saw them performing CPR on multiple victims. He said he saw at least one sheet laid over a person.

When asked if his life flashed before his eyes and felt lucky, Lima said, "For sure. Many people are hurt."

Jerome Jjooga, a Billerica car dealer, said he was checking out cars and heard a loud bang like an explosion and saw smoke.

“I’m lucky I’m alive,” he said.

Fredrick Kyazze, another witness, said he had already purchased two cars and was standing feet away when the Jeep drove into the crowd.

“We were just lucky,” he said, recounting how the injured lay strewn on the floor. “These are people you had just seen minutes ago."

Auction attendee Moses Alencar, 47, of Everett, who speaks Portuguese, said through a translator: "I've never seen a runaway car crash, people running fast, people picking up people. Three people died at the time, very bloody, several people injured."

In a press release shortly after the crash, state police said there is no evidence to suggest the incident was caused by an intentional or terrorist act.

"All evidence and information at this time suggests an accidental cause," state police said. "The investigation by Billerica and State Police is ongoing."

Arizona Department of Economic Security employee Jazmin Bridges and her son died in an apartment fire in Mesa, AZ


(Photo: GoFundMe)




 'The light is gone and you can tell that her presence isn't there,' mom says of daughter who died in Mesa fire

BrieAnna J Frank , The Republic | azcentral.com 


Published 3:41 p.m. MT May 4, 2017 | Updated 11 hours ago


Angela Bridges was at a grandson's college commencement in Detroit when she found out about the fire in Mesa that killed her daughter, Jazmin Bridges, and her little son,
Keyron Goins.

The celebratory event quickly turned into a "nightmare," she said.

Now, Angela said she must console her 14-year-old granddaughter, who was at school when the fire erupted, coming home to discover her home was burned and her family members were gone.

Jazmin Bridges died in the fire along with her son.

The Arizona Department of Economic Security confirmed that Jazmin was a department employee. Tasya C. Peterson, DES director of communications, released a statement on behalf of the state agency on Friday.

"On behalf of the Arizona Department of Economic Security, we send our sincere condolences to the family of Jazmin Bridges," Peterson said in the statement. "We are truly saddened by her loss. Her kindness, beautiful smile and infectious laugh will be missed tremendously. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends during this difficult time."

The Mesa Fire and Medical Department was called to the apartment, in the 500 block of South Country Club Drive, about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, on a report of smoke in a residence, police said.


Firefighters found a smoldering fire that had nearly been extinguished inside an apartment's bedroom, police said.

Firefighters also found Bridges and a small boy who were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

A GoFundMe page was created on Thursday to help Bridges' family with funeral expenses. As of Friday evening, the page had raised $1,115, with a goal of $5,000.

The page was created by Nikki Martinez, who said Bridges' mother was a close family friend and that all proceeds from the page would go toward helping her with funeral and other expenses.

"There's been a pretty big response," Martinez said. "She's helped a lot of people. She's got a huge heart and has always been there. She's done so much for so many people even when she doesn't really have it to help. So we wanted to be able to do something for her."

Angela said she's "so humbled and so grateful" for the outpouring of support she's gotten in the past few days.

"I feel very humbled and blessed that my daughter lived her life in such a way that people think of her and think of me and my family at this very difficult time," Angela said.

Angela described her grandson, who also died in the fire, as a "sweet little boy."

Jazmin's co-workers came to visit earlier this week, Angela said.

"They said she had the patience of Job in dealing with clients and she never complained," Angela said. "She did her work and did it with a smile.

"It's a somber moment in the office now because she's gone. It's not the same light. The light is gone and you can tell that her presence isn't there."

Angela says she plans to adopt her 14-year-old granddaughter, whom she said is "devastated" over the loss of her mother.

Angela said the family plans to seek counseling to cope with the tragedy, and that her faith and the need to be strong for others have kept her going.

"(It's) having faith and being strong for my granddaughter," Angela said. "She no longer has her mother, and I have to be there for her."

Mesa police said the cause of the fire remained under investigation.




=========


Mesa police: 2 people found dead in apartment fire
Alejandro Barahona , The Republic | azcentral.com 10:39 p.m. MT May 2, 2017

Two people — one of them a small child — were found dead inside a Mesa apartment that had caught fire Tuesday afternoon, Mesa police said.

The Mesa Fire and Medical Department was called to the apartment, in the 500 block of South Country Club Drive, about 4:30 p.m., on a report of smoke in a residence, police said.

Firefighters found a fire that had nearly been extinguished inside an apartment's bedroom, police said.


Firefighters also found the adult and small child, who were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Their identities were not available Tuesday night.

Police said the cause of the fire still was under investigation late Tuesday.

Jimmy Ray Baker, 45, with Beck-O Enterprises crushed to death after caught by a rock crusher in Altus, OK


Man pulled into rock crusher in Altus identified, passes away 


Friday, May 5th 2017, 12:29 pm EDT
By Rhiannon Poolaw, Digital Producer


ALTUS, OK (KSWO)- The man injured in a construction accident earlier this week just outside of Altus has passed away.

Jimmy Ray Baker, 45, worked for Beck-O Enterprises based in Vernon and Grand Rose, Texas. Baker was from Houston.

Shortly after 11:00 a.m. on May 2nd, Altus Fire, Police and EMS were called to the 1500 block of west Broadway to rescue a male construction worker that had been caught by a rock crusher. According to authorities, Baker was working on the rock crusher, trying to clear a jam when he was pulled into it.

Jackson County EMS transported Baker to Jackson County Memorial Hospital. OSHA is still on the scene investigating and they don’t have an incident report yet. 



Beck-O Enterprises, Inc. Overview


Beck-O Enterprises, Inc. filed as a Domestic For-Profit Corporation in the State of Texas on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 and is approximately one year old, as recorded in documents filed with Texas Secretary of State.   The company is owned by Becky O'Glesby.

BECK-O RECYCLING, INC.

Company Info

Texas Taxpayer Number assigned to BECK-O RECYCLING, INC. is 32041591994. Texas SOS File Number of this company is 0801252769. This company state of formation is Texas.

BECK-O RECYCLING, INC. mailing address is 16837 US HIGHWAY 283 VERNON, TX 76384-2779. Registered office street address is 16837 HWY 283 VERNON, TX 76384. You can find this business by geo coordinates: 34° 1' 0.3" N , 99° 14' 39.2" W.

BECK-O RECYCLING, INC. was incorporated on Tuesday 6th April 2010, so this company age is seven years, one month and one day. Company right to transact business in texas is currently ACTIVE.

BECK-O RECYCLING, INC. agent is BECKY OGLESBY. Company has three officers: BECKY OGLESBY employed as director, BECKY OGLESBY employed as president, JAMES W OGLESBY employed as director.





OSHA investigates a worker roof fall at Add Bac, Inc. in Dalton, Georgia


Company mum as OSHA looks into fall of worker through roof

DALTON, GEORGIA


May 4, 2017




The federal government is investigating the fall of a man through the roof of a local business on Tuesday.

A representative of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said in an email Wednesday evening that the agency is looking into the incident, which occurred around 6 p.m. at Add Bac Inc. at 1001 Riverbend Road. OSHA is part of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Company officials have not responded to repeated messages seeking the name and the condition of a male who fell nearly two stories through the roof onto the concrete floor in the warehouse.

At the scene on Tuesday, first responders from the Dalton Fire Department reported the worker was conscious and responsive. "He is in pretty good shape for someone who fell through a roof," said Battalion Chief Mike Russell. A man who said he was a warehouse supervisor said he wasn’t there when the incident happened. He declined to give his name and asked a reporter to contact the business office on Wednesday.

Multiple messages left Wednesday and Thursday by a reporter were not returned by company officials. Late Thursday afternoon, a company official contacted newspaper Publisher William Bronson and said the company would have no comment on the incident.The injured worker was taken to Hamilton Medical Center. An incident report filed by the fire department did not list his name.




=================

DALTON, GEORGIA

A male worker at a warehouse business on Riverbend Road was responsive and in stable condition after falling through a roof Tuesday.

Dalton Fire Department and emergency medical service personnel responded to a 911 call at Add Bac Inc., at 1001 Riverbend Road, shortly after 5:15 p.m.

Battalion Chief Mike Russell said the worker was on the roof and fell through to the cement floor below. The warehouse building appeared to be two stories tall.

"He is in pretty good shape for someone who fell through a roof," Russell said.

A supervisor at the business declined to comment or release the worker's name. However he was conscious and responsive to emergency responders. He was taken to Hamilton Medical Center for treatment.

A request for LifeForce, Erlanger hospital's ambulance helicopter, was made but was canceled.









Add Bac, Inc




1001 Riverbend Road
Dalton, GA 30721
Phone: (706) 278-8338


Add Bac, Inc is a privately held company in Dalton, GA and is a Single Location business.

Categorized under Finishers of Tufted Carpets and Rugs. Our records show it was established in 2007 and incorporated in GA. Current estimates show this company has an annual revenue of 486660 and employs a staff of approximately 3.

MIOSHA Issues Cease Operations Order Against Sunset Tree Service & Landscaping, LLC of Bay City






MIOSHA Issues Cease Operations Order Against Bay City Landscaping Company

Media Contact: LARA Communications 517-373-9280
Email: mediainfo@michigan.gov

May 1, 2017 - Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Director Shelly Edgerton directed the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) to execute a Cease Operations Order against Sunset Tree Service & Landscaping, LLC of Bay City for continuing to operate without abating hazards on the jobsite, while MIOSHA also issued 12 citations totaling $222,000 in proposed penalties.

Pursuant to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act 154 of 1974, MIOSHA ordered the company to cease operations due to unresolved safety issues, including:
  • Inadequate guard/distance to feed rolls on the Bandit Chipper,
  • Unguarded shaft with hex flange projections on the Bandit Chipper,
  • Operator safety control bar tied back with rope and wire, rendering the device ineffective on the Bandit Chipper,
  • Traffic control devices not utilized when employees were working in and adjacent to the road,
  • No cover on access panel for the Bandit Chipper, and
  • No training on tree trimming operations and safeguards.

As a result of two MIOSHA inspections conducted with Sunset from January 11, 2017 to March 15, 2017, MIOSHA issued six failure-to-abate citations for the violations listed above and six willful serious citations – the most serious classification.

Sunset has an extensive history of safety violations. Between 2011 and 2016, 14 inspections were conducted at the company, resulting in 48 citations with total initial penalties of $150,000. It has also been cited nine times for failure-to-abate. MIOSHA executed a Cease Operations Order against the company in May 2016, which was later lifted after it abated the violations.

“Sunset’s gross negligence of MIOSHA regulations continues to jeopardize the safety of its most valuable asset – its employees,” said Edgerton. “While MIOSHA strives to work collaboratively with the employer community, such a pattern of non-compliance requires that we take the necessary enforcement actions.”

Sunset Tree Service & Landscaping employs six workers and is an ornamental shrub and tree service. The business requires the extensive use of personal protective equipment, hand tools and various powered equipment used in the removal and processing of trees.

25-year-old worker dies after falling almost 13 feet from a roof in Kalamazoo, MI





25-year-old dies after falling at work; 8th worker death in Michigan this year

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports the state's eighth workplace death of the year happened in Kalamazoo.



A 25-year-old laborer fell approximately 12 ½ feet from a 3/12 pitch commercial roof onto a concrete area below. The laborer received a severe head injury. He was hospitalized for approximately 12 days before passing away on May 4, 2017.



There were 43 MIOSHA-related deaths in 2016. The lowest number of workplace related deaths happened in 2009 with 24.


When available, MIFACE Summaries of MIOSHA Inspections will be included at the end of the description.

1. 01/11/17 Crane Inspector 55 Fall A 55-year-old crane inspector was at the facility to inspect a crane. While attempting to access the crane, the floor gave way resulting in him falling 30-50 feet to the concrete floor. EMS was called and he was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased.  Dearborn
2. 02/01/17 Truck Driver 61 Struck By A 61-year-old truck driver was watching two mechanics work on the inside rear tire of a truck. One mechanic left to retrieve a tool while the other mechanic was removing the air chuck. The truck driver approached the tire when the side wall of the tire exploded, releasing the compressed air and throwing the truck driver backwards where his head struck the floor. The employee died in route to the hospital.
Burton
3. 03/07/17 Maintenance 58 Struck By Employees were working on a furnace that is used to heat treat automotive parts. The employees removed the vacuum line used to purge the furnace and connected plant air at approximately 100 p.s.i. to the door to check for leaks. A section of the door broke away at the welds and struck the 58-year-old maintenance worker causing fatal injuries.
Saginaw
4. 03/23/17 Public Service Worker 47 Struck By Road crew employees were patching holes when they were struck by another work truck on site. A 47-year-old public service worker was killed, another was hospitalized.
Taylor
5. 04/07/17 Welder 46 Caught In or Between A 46-year-old welder was welding on a 3,000 lb. part mounted on a fixture when the part fell onto the welder crushing him between the part and floor. It is undetermined at this time how the part came off the fixture.
Lapeer
6. 04/08/17 Laborer 54 Struck By A 54-year-old laborer was removing wood siding while standing within a garage that was being demolished. When the laborer removed the last section of siding, the structure became unstable and toppled onto him.
Detroit
7. 04/11/17 Carpenter 39 Fall A 39-year-old carpenter fell from the roof of a new home to a concrete surface at ground level.  The carpenter later died at the local hospital.
Clinton Township
8. 05/04/17 Laborer 25 Fall A 25-year-old laborer fell approximately 12 ½ feet from a 3/12 pitch commercial roof onto a concrete area below. The laborer received a severe head injury. He was hospitalized for approximately 12 days before passing away. Kalamazoo






















































































 

Heavy rain sparks flash floods, wall collapse and property damage in New York and New Jersey







































NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - Heavy rain falling on the tristate area Friday sparked flash floods in several areas.

Firefighters rescued several dozen people from cars that got stuck in floodwaters in Hackensack, New Jersey, officials said.

In nearby Hasbrouck Heights, cars drove through a flooded ramp off Route 17.

Heavy rain sparks flash floods in New York and New Jersey

Parts of Hoboken, New Jersey, were under water during the rain. Officials advised motorists to stick to the northern part of the city, while cops closed off streets.

A retaining wall underneath the Gowanus Expressway at Hamilton Avenue and 17th Street in Brooklyn collapsed. Water gushed over the crumbled wall. DOT crews responded to make repairs.

Weather conditions at LaGuardia, Newark, and Kennedy airports caused flight disruptions.

The West Side Highway in Manhattan was closed for about 10 blocks because of flooding, causing gridlock for several hours. The road reopened just before 5 p.m.

Cars plowed through flooding on the Central Park transverses (also a bad idea).

Wet conditions were reported in subway and train stations, prompting problems. N and W trains were suspended between 57 St-7 Av and Queensboro Plaza for several hours because of water conditions. Service resumed at about 4:30 p.m. Flooding in Penn Station caused a temporary closure of an entrance and two tracks.



============



Flooding Wreaks Havoc on Roads, Transit Across Tri-State
Rain totals topped 3 inches in some parts of the tri-state Friday, according to Storm Team 4



Parts of tri-state are facing serious cleanup after a deluge of rain on Friday. Michael George reports. (Published Friday, May 5, 2017)

What to Know


Heavy rains have caused flooding in New York City and flight delays in the region

Cars were submerged in parts of New Jersey; subway and PATH riders had to deal with leaky stations and service suspension

Spotty showers are possible through the weekend, with temperatures lingering in the low-to-mid 60s, Storm Team 4 says

Heavy rain and strong winds battered the tri-state area Friday, flooding parts of New York City and New Jersey within minutes, submerging cars and taking down highway retaining walls, suspending some transit service and delaying flights by nearly six hours.

Subway, Rail Stations Leak, Flood Amid Storm

Penn Station shut down its main entrance at 32nd Street and Seventh Avenue for about an hour because of the heavy rain; the stairwell at 31st Street was also closed. Workers were scrambling to contain and clean up after leaks at World Trade Center's Oculus, while water cascading down inside Grand Central Terminal forced people to walk through the halls with their umbrellas open. Some subway stations were flooded and water was pouring down ceilings.

Subway, Rail Stations Leak, Flood Amid Storm
Flooding made for an unpleasant experience inside subway and rail stations, as water cascaded from ceiling and down stairs. PATH service was also suspended. Marc Santia reports.(Published Friday, May 5, 2017)

PATH service from both Journal Square and Hoboken into 33rd Street in Manhattan was suspended after heavy rain poured down a manhole and onto the third rail at Christopher Street, knocking out power, law enforcement sources said. Crews were working to pump out water and get service back up and running. In the meantime, NJ Transit rail and buses are cross-honoring.

Water Pours Down Inside Grand Central Terminal
Water was pouring from the ceiling and the ground was flooded in Grand Central Terminal Friday, with one woman even holding her umbrella open inside to shield herself from the deluge.(Published Friday, May 5, 2017)


Highways and roads across other parts of northeastern New Jersey flooded quickly: water rose quickly on Route 440 and West Side Avenue, and cars were completely submerged in some parts.

In Hoboken, the police chief asked people not to drive unless it's an emergency due to massive flooding. Video posted to social media showed pedestrians wading in ankle-deep water in the middle of Hoboken intersections.

Flash Flooding Turns NJ Street Into a Stream
Footage shows one Hoboken street strreaming with water after flash flooding on Friday, while water was pouring down the walls at Borough Hall subway station during the deluge.(Published Friday, May 5, 2017)

Traffic crawled on New York City roadways, some of which temporarily closed because of the flooding. The West Side Highway was closed in midtown briefly because of the rising water. Streets in Gowanus, Brooklyn, were flooded, and a stone wall collapsed under the elevated Gowanus Expressway at 17th Street and 3rd Avenue. Fire officials on the scene said too much water caused the wall to slide.

Wall Collapses Underneath Gowanus Expressway
In Brooklyn, the weight of the water brought down a wall right underneath the Gowanus Expressway. John Chandler reports.(Published Friday, May 5, 2017)

Local airports were crippled by the intense weather system. Delays at JFK Airport were pushing six hours by early evening, while Newark and LaGuardia were reporting delays exceeding three hours, respectively.

Storm Team 4 said rain was likely to soak much of the region through the early afternoon. Another round of scattered showers may develop in the evening, and while drivers may deal with residual flooding, conditions should improve drastically on the roadways through the evening.

Three inches of rain had fallen on Central Park by late afternoon, according to Storm Team 4. Teterboro Airport saw 3.2 inches, and LaGuardia Airport in Queens saw 2.2 inches.


The weekend won't be a washout. Saturday appears to be the warmest weekend day, with forecasters predicting a high of 66 degrees for the city. It's also the most likely for rain, with showers expected in the afternoon hours. Sunday's highs will be in the low 60s under partly cloudy skies.

The cooler trend continues into next week, Storm Team 4 says, with the mercury expected to stay in the 50s Monday and Tuesday. The chance for additional showers ramp up by Thursday as temperatures stay below average for mid-May.