NYC Storm Victim Found Dead in Flooded Basement Boiler Room

Tragedy in Washington Heights

• 💔 A memorial honors Juan Carlos Montoya Hernandez, a 43-year-old man found dead in a flooded boiler room during recent storms.
• 😔 He was described as a beloved community member, known for his friendly nature and willingness to help.
• 🏠 Hernandez lived in a basement room and assisted the building superintendent with maintenance.

Building Conditions and Investigation

• ⚠️ Tenants reported frequent flooding in the basement, with water reaching knee-deep during heavy rains.
• 🏢 City records indicate the building is managed by the Elma Realy Corporation, which has not yet responded to requests for comment.
• ❓ The exact cause of Hernandez's death is under investigation by the medical examiner, with possibilities including electrocution or drowning.

Brooklyn Incident

• 🚨 In a separate incident, a full vacate order was issued for a Brooklyn building where another man died during the storms.
• 🏊‍♂️ Fire department scuba teams recovered a 39-year-old man from the flooded basement of the Crown Heights building.
• 🚫 Officials confirmed the building lacked electricity, gas, heat, and hot water.