Teenager May Have Fallen Into Storm Drain: Missing New Hampshire Boy May Have Slipped Into Storm Drain During Heavy Rainfall

Police have received a report of personal items found near a storm drain in New Hampshire, prompting a search for a person who may have fallen into the storm drain. A missing New Hampshire boy may have slipped into the storm drain during heavy rainfall Saturday night, WHDH reports.

A New Hampshire teenager, Jacob Goulet, was reported missing on Sunday morning. The evening prior, a heavy storm hit the area, and the family claims they have not seen or heard from Jacob since he was walking home during the heavy rainfall. It was also revealed that police might have matched the personal items with Jacob’s, based on information provided by his family.

According to police, the boy would have been in route to pass by the storm drain, and they are actively searching the area with the thought that perhaps Jacob may have slipped and fallen into the storm drain during the heavy rainfall.

The police were able to confirm that the personal items located near the storm drain were, indeed, those that were in possession of Jacob. Further, it confirms that Jacob was on foot headed in route towards the storm drain during the storm. As of now, no witnesses have come forward to confirm seeing Jacob falling into the storm drain.

Jacob was last seen wearing a denim vest with metal studs, black shorts, a gray t-shirt, and black Converse sneakers. He has blue eyes, short black hair, weighs approximately 200-pounds and is 5-foot-8-inches.

#BREAKING: Police are searching for a teen who may have fallen into a large storm drain in Nashua, NH. Jacob Goulet is missing. #NH #WBZ pic.twitter.com/3ypHBA8qO4

— Matthew Longfellow (@Longfellow_TV) October 23, 2016

The search is active and more information will be provided as it becomes available.

The Chicago Tribune once reported the dangers of storm drains. During heavy rainfall and floods, storm drains are designed to suck the water in. Unfortunately, the high currents that come along with the heavy rainfall draining into storm drains can also wash people into the storm drains, as well.

Many deaths occur involving storm drains each year. However, officials fear that covering storm drains will bring more flood damages to homes and buildings. Jon Durst, sewer superintendent in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, believes that how storm drains are handled should be on a case-to-case basis.

“Clogging is one of our main concerns and that’s why many municipalities have to evaluate storm inlets on a case-by-case basis. You have to balance the risk.”

A teenager drowned in a storm drain in Cedar Rapids, thus leading to changes with their storm drains. They spent $50,000 to add fencing and a grate around the storm drain where the teen drowned and had further plans to modify nearly 20 more near parks and schools.

A committee co-chair for the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agency’s Ken MacKenzie said that although the new drain systems are safer, some cities need to focus on upgrading their old structures that create dangerous situations by allowing a lot of water depth at the pipe inlet.

Many cities are contemplating different ways that they can increase the safety near storm drains in their area. Jim Thomas, a city manager in In Claremore, Oklahoma is one of them.

“Do we need to put safety rails in? We’re exploring all of those things now.”

People are encouraged to stay out of storm drains. Some enjoy exploring storm drains, and although they can make beautiful pictures, it is dangerous.

Cap Times reveals that anyone exploring storm drains can be subject to the dangers of sudden water pour. A second danger that nobody thinks of is the possibility that someone is illegally dumping sewer into the storm drain, thus leading the chance of exposing yourself to toxic gas. This is more likely to occur with older storm drains.

It is frowned upon entering storm drains for no reason at all.

A press conference is scheduled for noon on Sunday in regards to the missing team, who may have been swept into the storm drain in New Hampshire. Police and divers are actively searching for him.

[Featured Image by karagrubis/AP Images]