At least eight people were killed as the remnants of Hurricane Ida battered New York and New Jersey with tornadoes, record rain and flooding that left the area deluged and under states of emergency on Thursday, NBC News reported.
Videos on social media showed cars submerged on highways and water pouring into subway stations and homes after a wind-driven downpour shattered rainfall records and prompted an unprecedented flash flood emergency for New York City.
Three men, three women and a 2-year-old boy died in four separate flooding incidents in the city, police said. In Passaic, New Jersey, firefighters recovered a body from a vehicle that went underwater when it was caught in floodwaters near the Passaic River, the town’s mayor said.
“We’re enduring an historic weather event tonight with record breaking rain across the city, brutal flooding and dangerous conditions on our roads,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted.
In New York City, officials urged non-emergency vehicles to stay off the streets after a “travel ban” ended at 5 a.m. ET.
Central Park and Newark each saw more than 3 inches of rain in one hour — the most ever recorded in an hourlong period at those locations, NBC News meteorologist Bill Karins said.
Between 6 and 10 inches of rain fell over several hours, the National Weather Service said, and New York City streets were inundated with water.
Crown Heights is highest point in borough, which says something about how overwhelmed the sewer system is https://t.co/UnwWw3HvF0
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) September 2, 2021
The weather and flooding brought New York transit to a near standstill, with service suspended or severely limited across the subway system.
A rare tornado warning was issued for the Bronx and parts of Westchester on Wednesday night, while flights at LaGuardia, JFK and Newark Liberty airports were disrupted.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency, which allows for state aid.
4th Av & Garfield Pl (Gowanus, Brooklyn) pic.twitter.com/m4IAvrKaaX
— Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) September 2, 2021
Queens. 👀 https://t.co/ftKXJ2ELvt
— Yuh-Line Niou (@yuhline) September 2, 2021
Hatzalah rescuing Sifrei Torah from a Shul in Williamsburg
A Large reason why in CH (and other parts of NYC) Water Backed up into Everyone’s Basements and Ground Floor Levels, as well why there was in some places in CH about 2 feet of water (for a time period last night) causing tremendous damage etc, Is because our Catch Basins/Storm Drains by ALL our City Street corners are Clogged with Garbage, the thing with NYC unless we let the city know to fix their problem then there is no chance they will fix it on their own, So lets let them know, Most City Street corners in CH have… Read more »
I’m sorry, but the severity of the flooding last night had nothing to do with garbage bags. some leaves and dirt would be washed away and pushed through the gutters from the immense pressure of the water volume bearing down on it. Rather, it was a backup from the entire Coney Island watershed (of which crown heights is part of). the city’s storm drain system simply couldn’t handle the sheer volume of water coming and and backed up. a pipe can only hold so much water, no matter how wide it is. so the water backs up and follows the… Read more »
A few months ago there was Major rain a few times and I noticed that the street corner where I live was a big puddle and people couldn’t cross the street because the drain was clogged. I called 311 they came the next day and they cleared it.
It’s at least 13 as of now.
Overall it would go along way if everyone would be more careful with refuse disposal and especially local business to make sure the streets are kept clean the balance of alternate side and keeping streets cleaned CH needs everyone to pitch in