From Streets to Subways: NYC Faces Record Rainfall and Overwhelmed Infrastructure
From Streets to Subways: NYC Faces Record Rainfall and Overwhelmed Infrastructure (Photo: Twitter Screenshot)

New York City, the nation's most populous metropolis, found itself grappling with unprecedented flooding as record-setting rainfalls overwhelmed its sewer system. The deluge, which began on Friday, sent torrents of water cascading through streets, subways, schools, and vehicles, catching many off guard during the morning rush hour.

The intensity of the rainfall was evident at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, where nearly 8 inches of rain was recorded in a single day, marking the highest since 1948. Brooklyn, one of the city's five boroughs, received a month's worth of rain in just three hours during the storm's peak on Friday morning.

The flooding's severity prompted New York Governor Kathy Hochul to declare a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley. In an interview with WNBC-TV, she emphasized the life-threatening nature of the event and urged residents to stay home due to the perilous travel conditions. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy followed suit, declaring a state of emergency for his state later in the day.

  The New York City Fire Department reported that firefighters had conducted rescues at six locations where basements were inundated. The floodwaters also seeped into 150 of the city's 1,400 schools. David Banks, New York City's school chancellor, confirmed that one school in Brooklyn had to be evacuated after floodwaters caused its boiler to emit smoke. Subway services were severely disrupted, with major suspensions on 10 train lines in Brooklyn and all three Metro-North train lines. To mitigate the impact of the train outages, additional buses were deployed throughout the city.

Air travel was equally affected. All three New York City area airports experienced flight delays. Notably, the historic Marine Air Terminal at LaGuardia Airport was forced to shut down due to flooding. This terminal, the airport's smallest, primarily serves Spirit and Frontier airlines.

  Rohit Aggarwala, New York City's Chief Climate Officer, highlighted the broader implications of the flooding during a news conference. He pointed to climate change as the driving force behind the changing weather patterns, noting that the city's infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with the rapid climatic shifts.

The flooding event in New York City is part of a broader weather pattern affecting approximately 25 million people across the Northeast. Heavy rain is expected to continue impacting southern New England through Friday evening, with Connecticut, Rhode Island, and parts of Massachusetts, including Boston, bracing for significant rainfall.