LaGuardia airport was compelled to shutter one of its terminals, with startling social media images showing passengers wading through water that rose well above the tops of their shoes.
Mayor Eric Adams issued a stern plea for residents to stay put, emphasizing that streets were impassable and subway stations were inundated. "If you are home, stay home. If you are at work or school, shelter in place for now, some of our subways are flooded and it's extremely difficult to move around the city," he urged.
Scenes from across New York portrayed vehicles half-submerged and traffic brought to a grinding halt, with some major thoroughfares completely obstructed.
Shopkeepers in waterlogged stores valiantly attempted to safeguard their merchandise and push floodwaters back onto the streets.
The sprawling New York subway system was also not spared, as several lines in Brooklyn had to be temporarily closed.
Ahmed Abdou, a 50-year-old cab driver originally from Egypt, criticized officials for their struggle to cope with what he saw as a recurring problem. "The subway in the city is terrible," he lamented. "All the storms, they come every year at the same time. We should anticipate it better."
However, Rohit Aggarwala, the city's Environmental Protection Commissioner, attributed the challenges to the rapid advancement of global warming, outpacing the city's infrastructure. "This changing weather pattern is the result of climate change. And the sad reality is our climate is changing faster than our infrastructure can respond," Overall said.
Responding to the crisis, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a formal state of emergency encompassing the city of 8.5 million people and its densely populated environs, including Long Island to the east and the Hudson River valley to the north.
The National Weather Service issued warnings of continued flooding throughout Friday, with rainfall rates reaching up to two inches (5.1 centimeters) per hour. The total accumulation for the day could reach a staggering seven inches (18 centimeters), raising the specter of flash flooding in urban areas and locations with inadequate drainage.
At the heart of Manhattan, at Grand Central Terminal, Sue Evangelista, a 63-year-old retiree, endured a grueling five-hour wait for a train bound for Connecticut. However, the train was eventually canceled, leaving her and countless other suburban commuters stranded.
The source of the torrential rain was a low-pressure system along the mid-Atlantic coast, drawing in copious moisture from the ocean.
Notably, in September 2021, Hurricane Ida unleashed devastating flooding in the region, particularly in Brooklyn and Queens, claiming the lives of 13 individuals, many of whom were trapped in basement apartments. Both boroughs once again found themselves grappling with severe flooding on this fateful Friday, prompting authorities to issue warnings for residents to exercise extra caution.
In the city's lifeline—the subway system, which boasts 420 stations and over 30 lines—water cascaded down staircases and seeped through ceilings at some stations. Multiple lines, particularly in Brooklyn, had to be suspended due to the deluge.
Governor Hochul emphasized the urgency of restoring subway services, as many schoolchildren rely on the system for their daily commute. This decision, however, perplexed parents who questioned why schools remained open on a day marked by relentless downpours, leaving many children stranded in classrooms.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso issued a statement asserting the need for improved communication processes between New York City and the State and its residents in the face of sudden and extreme weather events. "The climate catastrophe is here, and we must act accordingly," he concluded.
0 Comments