Rochester Basements Dry Out After Severe Thunderstorm Floods Area

Basements across Rochester began to dry out Wednesday after a severe thunderstorm flooded parts of the area. The storm hit on Tuesday evening, April 1, 2026. Residents and responders worked to remove standing water.

Homeowner experience in Greece

Andrea Butler of Greece discovered water rising in her walk-up basement. She heard an alarming noise Tuesday night and found water coming up through the shower and beneath a toilet.

Her sub-basement, once an indoor pool, filled with standing water. She estimated roughly two feet in that lower level before crews arrived.

Plumbing crews and initial assessment

Butler called Fazio Plumbing, which arrived Wednesday morning. Owner Frank Fazio located the sump pump in the sub-basement and assessed the depth.

Fazio described water reaching about knee height, and near a third step up from the bottom. He said pumping by the fire department would allow repair crews to enter safely.

Fire department response

Local firefighters pumped out Butler’s unused indoor pool. They estimated the removed water at roughly 2,000 gallons. The water level then began to recede.

Brockport Fire District perspective

Chief Adam Leggett said his district logged many calls about flooded basements and roads. Crews worked to place pumps and clear low points.

Leggett warned that pumps only help if floodwaters have stopped entering. He said this event delivered an unusually large volume of water in a short time. The limited wind during the storm reduced additional damage.

Regional impact

Other areas also reported flooding. Carnival grounds in Hilton and a Wyoming County farm experienced water damage. Viewers submitted photos of the widespread flooding to local outlets.

Cleanup continued into Wednesday as homeowners and crews focused on drying basements and restoring utilities. Filmogaz.com will monitor recovery updates and share new information as it becomes available.