State of Emergency Declared in New York City Due to Flash Flooding
New York City declares a state of emergency as powerful storms unleash flash flooding.
Numerous subway lines, streets, and highways within the city have experienced significant flooding, with one terminal at LaGuardia Airport shutting down on Friday.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has stated that certain regions received up to five inches (12.7cm) of rainfall overnight, and an additional seven inches (17.8cm) are expected. She emphasized the perilous and potentially life-threatening nature of this storm.
“On X, previously known as Twitter, I am officially declaring a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley in response to the unprecedented rainfall sweeping across the area,” she announced.
Governor Hochul emphasized the importance of taking precautions to ensure safety and cautioned against any attempts to traverse flooded roads. Fortunately, no fatalities or serious injuries have been reported at this time.
A state of emergency was also announced in Hoboken, a town in New Jersey located just across the Hudson River from New York City.
Mayor Eric Adams of New York City issued a stern warning, advising residents to exercise increased vigilance and extreme caution in light of the declared state of emergency. He mentioned that several subway lines were inundated, causing severe disruptions to the city’s transportation network, as he conveyed during a press briefing.
Additionally, authorities have reported a minimum of six rescue operations conducted to save individuals who were trapped in flooded basements.
Images and video footage depicted individuals wading through water that rose to knee level, as both streets and subway systems grappled with the onslaught of heavy rainfall. Numerous social media videos showcased water cascading from subway station ceilings and walls, inundating platforms.
The majority of the flooding has been concentrated in Brooklyn, where a flash flood warning remains in effect until 14:30 local time (19:30 GMT). Brooklyn Navy Yard reported an astonishing 2.5 inches of rainfall within a single hour. During a virtual briefing, New York’s Chief Climate Officer, Rohit Aggarwala, highlighted that the city’s sewage infrastructure was originally designed to handle a maximum of 1.75 inches of rainfall per hour.
“It’s unsurprising that certain areas in Brooklyn have endured the worst of this,” he remarked.
Kelly Hayes, a resident, shared with the BBC that she anticipates the flood-related damages to her bar and kitchen in the Gowanus neighborhood will amount to approximately $25,000 to $30,000 (£20,500-$24,500).
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recommended that individuals stay home if their travel was not essential.
Authorities reported the closure of Terminal A at LaGuardia Airport due to flooding, urging passengers to verify their flight status with their respective airlines before heading to the airport.
In addition, the New York Police Department announced several road closures and revealed the deployment of the National Guard to assist with the emergency response.
In other areas, traffic came to a complete halt as water levels surged above the tires of vehicles along a segment of the FDR Drive, a crucial roadway running along Manhattan’s eastern side.
Meanwhile, in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn, laborers navigated through knee-deep water while attempting to clear a drain, with cardboard and assorted debris drifting past them.
As of midday (1600 GMT), city officials confirmed that there had been no fatalities or serious injuries attributed to the storm.
Flood alerts and advisories issued by the weather service currently affect approximately 18 million residents in the New York metropolitan area and various other major cities along the East Coast.
National Weather Service data reveals that New York City has received nearly 14 inches of rainfall this month, marking it as the wettest September since 1882.
By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Feed
