Main break leaves hundreds of homes and businesses without water - some without gas

The Department of Environmental Protection says about 200 homes and 16 businesses were impacted.

Lindsay Tanney and Adolfo Carrion

Jan 24, 2024, 10:41 PM

Updated 184 days ago

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A water main break that flooded a Bay Ridge cultural center has left hundreds of homes and some businesses without water, and some without gas.
The area around 68th Street and 4th Avenue is still chaotic as National Grid is working to clean up the water main break. The Department of Environmental Protection says about 200 homes and 16 businesses were impacted.  
The president of the Laconian Pan-Hellenic Cultural Center found the center flooded to the brim at the crack of dawn.
“I found the police and the fire department… and yet they couldn’t close it,” said cultural center president Timoleon Kakouros. “One of the valves next to it here on the block, they told me it's broken.” 
Kakouros is reasonably frustrated, and the basement of the center is now flooded.  
For the coffee shop next door, the lack of water meant no coffee – and fewer customers.  
“I thought it would be like 10 minutes. And the day went on and it was like hours and hours with no water,” said Steven Helgesen, barista at City League Coffee Roasters.  
National Grid workers tell News 12 that they are working to dig more holes to try and get the buildings their hot water and gas access. They have not provided a timeline on when it will be completely fixed. 


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