Landslide video brings national attention for Charles Village resident

By the time the video begins, it's clear that something is wrong on East 26th Street. Cars are listing unsteadily on the edge of the chasm forming between the road and the rail bed below. What happens next, as they say, will astound you.

Twenty-four-year-old videographer Nick Reyes managed to catch the collapse Wednesday of a good chunk of his block, as a retaining wall gave way in a torrential downpour.

An urban landslide is unusual enough, but his dramatic footage has illustrated the power of the storm for people around the world. The video has more than 6 million views on YouTube.

Reyes told Baltimore Sun reporter Jean Marbella this week that his Jeep was among the vehicles that slid down toward the train tracks. He's in a band called Paul Newman and the Ride Home, and he is concerned about the equipment that was in the truck.

The two-year 26th Street renter has other problems, too. Like other residents on the block, he'll have to clear out for as long as 40 days while officials evaluate the damage and make repairs.

The Washington Post also interviewed Reyes this week, and noted in its story that the news organization had bought the video from Reyes' friend, who posted it on YouTube. Neither side would reveal the price, the article said.

As the southern side of the street noisily crashes down in Reyes' video, it's hard to ignore the shrieks of one of his neighbors. Millions of people have heard the voice of Erica McCullough, who neighbors say is the "block mom."

She spoke to Sun reporter Catherine Rentz this week as well, and said the neighborhood is eager to return to normal.