The source of the problem was right on top of their school. Every time there was a storm, rainwater from the roof would flow into one storm drain until it was full, and then the excess water would flood the street in front of PS5. It was so bad that parents and buses had to navigate around the water. Teachers moved their parked cars away from the school to avoid flooding.
“When a thunderstorm was forecasted you knew there were certain areas not to park,” recalls Albert Padilla, former science teacher at PS5, which serves pre-K to 8th grade, and now Science Supervisor for the School District of Jersey City.