New York City: State of emergency declared over flash flooding

The Immediate Impact and Emergency Response

Severe weather conditions have caused significant damage to the city's transportation systems, including its subway systems, streets, and highways.

A terminal at LaGuardia Airport was temporarily closed due to the storm, before reopening later.

The city has experienced up to 8 inches (20cm) of rain in some areas.

Despite skies calming slightly in the evening, Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency across New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley due to the extreme rainfall.

The governor has urged people to prioritize their safety and avoid traveling on flooded roads as they pose a life-threatening risk.

This storm is considered dangerous and requires the public to take necessary precautions to stay safe. Many of the city's subway systems, streets, and highways have flooded, while at least one terminal at LaGuardia Airport closed on Friday before later reopening.

Up to 8in (20cm) of rain fell in some parts of the city, but skies had calmed slightly by the evening. "This is a dangerous, life-threatening storm," Governor Kathy Hochul said.

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"I am declaring a state of emergency across New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley due to the extreme rainfall we're seeing throughout the region," Gov Hochul said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

She urged people to take steps to stay safe and "never attempt to travel on flooded roads".

Mayor and Governor's Declarations

There have been no reports of any deaths or critical injuries resulting from the severe flooding that has recently been afflicting parts of the Northeastern United States.

In response to the emergency, a state of emergency was declared in the town of Hoboken, New Jersey, which is located just across the Hudson River from New York City.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, has been urging residents to exercise caution and remain vigilant in the face of the ongoing crisis.

The severity of the situation was highlighted during a press briefing, where Mr Adams revealed that some of the city's subways had been flooded, making it extremely difficult for people to move around.

He also reported that there had been 15 rescues from cars and three from basement apartments.

Although the rain eased up later on Friday, Governor Hochul warned that the region was still in the throes of the crisis, and highlighted her concern that people might be lulled into a false sense of security by a brief respite in the weather.

Infrastructure Damage and Transportation Disruptions

The flooding has caused widespread disruption to New York's subway system and the Metro North commuter rail service, with many stations being closed and some subway lines suspended entirely.

In Mamaroneck, which is a suburban area located north of the city in Westchester County, emergency services have been using inflatable rafts to rescue people who have become trapped in buildings by the floods.

Pictures and videos have emerged on social media showing people wading through knee-deep water on the streets and in the subways, while others have shown water pouring from the ceiling and walls of subway stations onto inundated platforms.

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In a virtual briefing, Rohit Aggarwala, New York's chief climate officer, revealed that the city's sewage system was designed to handle only 1.75 inches of rain per hour, indicating that the extent of the damage was not entirely unexpected.

Notably, parts of Brooklyn were hit the hardest by the rain, with South Williamsburg seeing workers wading through knee-high water to unclog a drain.

As they did so, cardboard and other debris floated past them, further complicating efforts to clear the area. One resident, Kelly Hayes, shared with the BBC that her bar and kitchen, located in the Gowanus neighborhood, had suffered extensive flood damage.

Community Resilience and Support Efforts

Due to flooding, Terminal A at La Guardia Airport has been closed down. As a result, passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines before embarking on their travels.

The New York Police Department has also announced multiple road closures and the National Guard has been deployed to assist in managing the situation.

Meanwhile, traffic came to a standstill as water rose above the tires of vehicles on a stretch of the FDR Drive, which is a major road along the eastern side of Manhattan.

According to the National Weather Service, New York City has experienced almost 14 inches of rain this month alone, making it the wettest September since 1882.