In Columbus, Ohio, footage of the area's disastrous flooding captured a lighthearted moment as people went to save a fish that had lost its way.
Here's what to know
The footage was shared on TikTok by a Columbus street-news account, StreetScoop614, which showcased bystander video from Mike Robinette showing floodwaters submerging a nearby road.
@streetscoop614 🐟🌊 COLUMBUS FLOODING GOT SO BAD… PEOPLE WERE CATCHING FISH IN THE STREETS! Columbus didn't just get flooded, some areas looked like they turned into a whole new body of water. 😳 With streets underwater and neighborhoods dealing with major flooding, residents were even spotting and catching fish that apparently ended up in the flooded streets. 🌧️🐟 ONLY IN COLUMBUS… Do you know what kind of fish this is? 🎥 MIKE ROBINETTE #ColumbusOhio #fyp #viralvideo #Flooding #CentralOhio ♬ original sound - StreetScoop614
The caption of the video explained that "Columbus didn't just get flooded, some areas looked like they turned into a whole new body of water. With streets underwater and neighborhoods dealing with major flooding, residents were even spotting and catching fish that apparently ended up in the flooded streets."
As people react in the background, a fish appears in the submerged street as a man tries to help it back into the floodwater.
One woman yelled, "It jumped out!" and then, "He's gonna save it," while chuckling over the absurdity of it all. Luckily, the man was able to capture the animal in a large plastic container and transport it to a place where it could be released.
Toward the end of the video, the large fish is returned to a body of water rather than to the road where it accidentally got stranded.
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One commenter joked in the comments below the TikTok footage, "Never have I ever seen a fish fall down the stairs."
More background
When streets, neighborhoods, and parking lots fill with water, people can lose access to homes, jobs, schools, and emergency services within minutes. Vehicles can be destroyed, businesses may be forced to close, and cleanup costs can linger long after the water recedes.
And worsening extreme weather disasters threaten lives and livelihoods by increasing the risk of dangerous road conditions, contaminated water, mold growth in homes, and damage to critical infrastructure.
Heavier downpours can also overwhelm storm drains and waterways, putting public health, community safety, and local economic stability at risk all at once.
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