Could Inflatable Plugs Have Held Back New York's Subway Floods?

"The giant 32″ x 16″ plug "

Doesn't anybody proof read this stuff?

It's Spinal Tap all over again ...

F**k the napkin.

Very small subway.

You bet... Plug the outer opening and the groundwater will not well up with the massive swelling of the lens. Should slow it down as far as access openings though, and work great for trapping victims who we responders might otherwise save. Lot of parameters to consider and nothing to be taken lightly!

Looks like a great way to turn a tunnel into a boat...

In the lab, yes. In the world, NO.

The first, second and especially the powered third rail prevents it from working at the bottom. The top of the tunnel is full with all sort of loose installation. No plugging there possible. People's staircase from the street the same, doubled.

Remember, the southern point of Manhattan, the Battery Park had salt water 8-14 feet (3-5 meter) over the grass, + the waves up to 20 feet (7 meters) above that. If you have difficulty with that, check it. I commuted over 20 years there to work, and know the neighborhood like the backside of my hand.

Additionally, the power entrances to those buildings are in the basements and subbasements. now filled with salt or brackish water. NOT good for fast restoration.

I believe the idea is that the inflatable plug is compliant enough to conform to the rails. Sure, it won't be water tight, it only needs to keep out enough water so the pumps can keep up with the flow. As far as hare-brained ideas go, this one is actually pretty good.

And watch out for those hares, they can have a vicious streak a mile wide.

Yup, rabbits burrow to travel to multiple outlets. Just like ventilation shafts from sidewalk level to tunnel level....oooops, need one plug for each, now how many thousands of rabbits we need to considder.... Sorry, not trying to be snarky, but even if the TUNNEL plug works well enough, there are just sooo many holes in the system that a flood can find too many holes. you would need to require water resistant doors at utility entrances and install allot of additional forced draft ventilation everywhere and there goes your power bill.

The inflatable plug IS a good emergency idea, but for a pipe, not a sieve.