United States: The Governor of New York City has declared a state of emergency due to powerful storms causing flash floods.
The subway, streets, and highways in the city are flooded, and one terminal at LaGuardia Airport is closed. Some areas of the city received up to 8 inches (20 cm) of rain, and forecasters predict a few more inches.
New York Governor Ms. Kathy Hochul stated that, “this is a dangerous, life-threatening storm.”
“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,” Ms. Hochul wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Governor urged people to take steps to stay safe and “never attempt to travel on flooded roads.”
There have been no reports of deaths or critical injuries. A state of emergency was declared in Hoboken, New Jersey, which is just across the Hudson River from New York City.
The subway system and Metro North commuter rail service in New York faced significant disruptions due to flooding, as per the Metropolitan Transportation Agency. Some subway lines were completely suspended, and numerous stations had to be closed.
The New York Police Department has informed about several road closures and mentioned the deployment of the National Guard.
In another area, traffic came to a stop as water surpassed the tyres of cars on a section of the FDR Drive, a significant road along Manhattan’s east side.
New York City has received almost 14 inches of rain this month, marking it as the rainiest September since 1882, as per data from the National Weather Service.