Major Water Main Break Leaves Hundreds High and Dry In Buffalo

People all over the Empire State have been dealing with tons of snow and frigid temperatures for the last few weeks. With little reprieve from the harsh impacts of winter, infrastructure in cities from Buffalo to Brooklyn has been suffering as the cold weather is really taking its toll on the region.

Not only are regions running low on road salt, and there has been a large increase in the number of plow crashes, but we're also seeing failures in all sorts of critical equipment that is essential to keeping people warm and safe this winter. There have been a number of power outages across the state, and now, with the extended arctic temperatures, we're seeing an inordinate amount of water main breakages.

The Buffalo region has had several water main breaks over the last few weeks, and now another that happened in the late-night hours on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, caused several people to be trapped on a city bus, and a street to collapse.

Water Main Break in Buffalo's Black Rock Neighborhood Causes Street To Collapse

With temperatures in the single digits, a water main break near the corner of Hertel Ave and Military Road in Buffalo's Black Rock Neighborhood caused thousands of gallons of water to flood the street, along with causing a portion of the road to buckle.

In addition to the damage to the street and the loss of water to several hundred residents of the neighborhood, an NFTA Metro Bus got stuck in the road.

First responders were able to rescue the passengers and bus driver, and city repair crews were hard at work to make emergency repairs to the water lines to stop the flooding and try to restore water to the people in the neighborhood.

As the cold weather continues to leave its mark on places like Buffalo, officials should prepare for the possibility of more breaks.

Get our free mobile app