Philly Parking Garage Floods on Valentine's Day

Knee-deep water leaves cars submerged in downtown Philadelphia lot

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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A parking garage in downtown Philadelphia experienced severe flooding on Saturday night, leaving cars parked inside submerged in knee-deep water. The cause of the flooding is still under investigation, but one car owner, Klark Johnson, found his Kia Forte filled with water after attempting to retrieve it from the flooded garage.

Why it matters

Unexpected flooding events can cause significant damage to vehicles and disrupt plans, especially on a holiday weekend like Valentine's Day when many people were likely using the parking garage. This incident raises questions about the structural integrity and maintenance of parking garages in urban areas prone to extreme weather.

The details

Water began spewing out into the parking garage at 16th and Callowhill Streets in Philadelphia on Saturday night, leading to knee-deep flooding. NBC10 news crews were on the scene and captured footage of the submerged cars. One affected driver, Klark Johnson, said the water had been flowing for at least three hours before he tried to retrieve his car, a Kia Forte, from the flooded garage.

  • The flooding began on Saturday night, February 14, 2026.
  • The water had been flowing for at least three hours before Klark Johnson attempted to retrieve his car.

The players

Klark Johnson

A car owner whose Kia Forte was submerged in the flooded parking garage.

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What they’re saying

“I thought I would be really safe parking it in a garage. But, unfortunately, my car got submerged under water.”

— Klark Johnson, Car owner (NBC10)

What’s next

The cause of the flooding is still under investigation, and officials have not yet determined what led to the water spewing into the parking garage. Authorities are expected to provide updates as they work to assess the damage and determine the source of the flooding.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder that even seemingly secure parking garages can be vulnerable to unexpected weather events, underscoring the importance of having comprehensive insurance coverage and being prepared for potential disruptions, especially during holiday weekends when travel and plans may be more common.