‘I just saw this wave of water:’ Flood hits Day 1 of Foodtruck Wars Street Festival

No one at the Foodtruck Wars Street Festival on Thursday expected to need water wings or paddleboards.

But after a water main break on Fourth Avenue, people had to dash across the street to the sidewalk.

Water flooded 23rd Street East at around 5 p.m. as vendors were serving the supper rush.

Food vendor Marcy Ellis said she was cooking when she noticed the water coming towards her.

“I looked up and just saw this wave of water rushing towards me and I just thought, ‘Nooo,’ ” Ellis said Friday. “We had to grab a couple of our coolers that were swept away from the water.”

Ellis said the water level was above her feet but that didn’t stop anyone from serving.

“We kind of just pulled our pants up a bit and worked in the water,” said Ellis. “It is just water, after all.”

Ellis said vendors never know what obstacles are going to be thrown their way when they’re working at a food truck and Thursday was just another example of that.

“That’s just kind of food truck life. Nothing ever turns out how you think it’s going to,” said Ellis.

Other vendors who were working on the ground had to move their tents to avoid the water.

Kayla Klassen said she heard people shouting and that caught her attention.

“They were shouting, ‘Watch out,’ and I thought, ‘Watch out for what?’ Then I saw the water rushing towards me,” said Klassen.

Klassen said only a couple of boxes were damaged but nothing of value was lost.

The city is still working on repairing the water main break.