New York City announces emergency due to severe storms causing flash flooding

By: Pune Pulse

September 30, 2023.

New York City declared a state of emergency due to the severe storms causing flash flooding. Numerous subway systems, streets, and highways within the city have been inundated, and LaGuardia Airport experienced the closure of one terminal before reopening.

Some areas of the city received up to 8 inches (20cm) of rainfall, although the weather conditions had slightly improved by the evening. Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the dangerous and life-threatening nature of the storm. In response, she declared a state of emergency across New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley, citing the excessive rainfall throughout the region.

 MGovernor Hochul conveyed her message through X, formerly known as Twitter, urging individuals to prioritize their safety and avoid traveling on flooded roads. Fortunately, no fatalities or critical injuries have been reported thus far. Additionally, the town of Hoboken in New Jersey, situated across the Hudson River from New York City, has also declared a state of emergency. Mayor Eric Adams of New York City emphasized the need for heightened alertness and extreme caution during this time.

Certain subway lines were completely suspended, and numerous stations were closed. According to Reuters, emergency personnel in Mamaroneck, a Westchester County suburb north of the city, employed inflatable rafts to rescue individuals trapped in buildings. Images and video footage depicted individuals wading through water that reached up to their knees, as streets and subways were inundated by heavy rain. Several videos shared on social media appeared to show water cascading from the ceiling and walls of subway stations and onto inundated platforms.

During a virtual briefing, Rohit Aggarwala, the chief climate officer of New York, highlighted that the city’s sewage system was originally designed to handle a maximum of 1.75 inches per hour. Consequently, it is not surprising that certain areas of Brooklyn have been severely affected by these floods. In South Williamsburg, workers had to navigate through knee-high water while attempting to clear a drain, with debris such as cardboard floating by.