NEW YORK, NY – Sudden torrential downpours brought flash flooding to New York City on Friday, halting subway services, flooding apartments, and transforming streets into mini-lakes.
The storm system dumped nearly eight inches of rain in some areas, prompting New York Governor Kathy Hochul to declare a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley. National Guard troops were deployed to aid in emergency responses.
In the Westchester County suburb of Mamaroneck, rescue operations were conducted using inflatable rafts to save people stranded by the floods. The Metropolitan Transportation Agency announced major disruptions to both the subway system and the Metro-North commuter rail service, with complete suspensions of some lines and station closures.
The downpour marks one of the wettest Septembers on record for the city. As of Friday morning, 13.74 inches of rain had fallen in September, nearing the all-time high of 16.82 inches set in 1882.
Despite the severe weather, New York City’s public schools remained open, although some buildings experienced flooding. In contrast, Bronxville, a suburban district, dismissed students early due to the worsening conditions.
Residents complained about inadequate warnings and drainage systems. In The Hole, a low-lying area on the border of Brooklyn and Queens, Mohammed Doha, a construction worker, lamented the flooding in his ground-level apartment. “If they would have a proper drainage system like the other areas of the city, then we wouldn’t have this problem,” he said.
Mayor Eric Adams defended the city’s response, stating that “all of the necessary precautions were taken.” Meanwhile, Hoboken, New Jersey, also declared a state of emergency as floods overwhelmed newly installed floodgates, blocking many roads.
The flooding follows last weekend’s impact from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia, which had already saturated the ground, making the city more susceptible to flash flooding.
Based on an original news report by Reuters.