In New Orleans, a city still shaken from the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Katrina, recent viral footage stirred up dormant fears. Videos widely distributed across TikTok and X in May 2025 contain footage of manhole covers being raised several inches from the ground city-wide, and water bursting forth from below them. To a city that weathered one of America’s worst catastrophes, the video is more than interesting—it is a haunting reminder of the past, viewed by some as omens foretelling a coming storm.
On August 29, 2005, New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. At least 1,800 lost their lives and $125 billion worth of damages occurred due to over 50 breaches in the city levee system, inundating 80% of New Orleans. The trauma from this occurrence collectively lingers vividly, and any out-of-the-norm event causes increased vigilance. After Katrina, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers poured $14.5 billion to upgrade the city’s flood protection to safeguard against a 100-year flood event. However, the system’s durability still hangs in the balance, particularly as weather patterns intensify with climate change.
This month, videos of manhole covers being displaced by water pressure during heavy rainfall have gone viral. Shared across social media, these clips show covers lifting in neighborhoods across New Orleans, with some users claiming similar events occurred weeks before Katrina’s levee breaches. Posts on X, such as those urging residents to prepare evacuation plans, reflect the emotional weight of these claims. The fear of history repeating itself is palpable, as the city’s vulnerability to flooding—situated below sea level—remains a constant concern.
Experts are quick to dispel rumors in the midst of the speculation. Dr. Jane Smith, a civil engineer at Tulane University, clarifies,
“The manhole covers get displaced largely as a result of hydraulic pressure in the drain system during heavy rainfall. It’s a reflection that the system is strained, but it does not predict weather occurrences.”
Meteorologists from the National Weather Service reinforce this, stating there’s no scientific link between manhole cover movement and hurricane activity. Such incidents, they note, are common in cities with aging infrastructure and are typically tied to localized urban flooding, not large-scale disasters.
Phenomenon Cause Implication Manhole Cover Displacement Hydraulic pressure from heavy rainfall or gas buildup in drainage systems Indicates infrastructure stress, not a predictor of hurricanes.
In New Orleans, a city steeped in folklore and spiritual traditions, some residents view these manhole displacements as more than mechanical failures. Many, particularly those with deep cultural roots, see them as warnings from ancestors or nature itself.
“In our culture, we believe nature gives us signs,”
says Marie Johnson, a long-time resident.
“These videos remind me of stories my grandparents told about signs before Katrina.”
This perspective underscores the lasting psychological impact of past disasters and the role of community narratives in interpreting current events.
The Sewerage and Water Board in New Orleans has recognized the manhole accidents and is taking action to correct subsurface drain issues. Officials emphasize, however, there is no indication the events are related to an imminent hurricane. The National Weather Service shows no active hurricane watch or warning currently for the region. Though NOAA will publish its 2025 hurricane season forecast predicting higher-than-normal season activity, no threats are specified as of May 23, 2025. Officials call upon residents to remain up to date via credible sources and to comply with emergency readiness standards.
The same manhole cover displacements in New Orleans have happened in the past as well, usually when hurricanes are particularly heavy during the summer season. One such storm in 2019 pushed a manhole cover off its mounts at the corner of St. Charles and Gravier with water pressure hard enough to raise the heavy cover.
While the occurrences are dramatic and happen in New Orleans, they are common in cities such as San Francisco and Pittsburgh as well and are more a result of the difficulty in stormwater management when infrastructure gets old and is in the city below a level considered below sea level.
