New York declares state of emergency amid flash flood warning - The Independent

New York declares state of emergency amid flash flood warning - live updates | The Independent

NYC flooding - live: Mayor urges ‘extreme caution’ with all five boroughs under state of emergency

Latest developments as New York City is hit by flash floods and state of emergency is declared

Oliver O'Connell,
Kelly Rissman Comments

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a State of Emergency as flash flooding wreaks havoc across New York City caused by torrential rain pummelling the northeastern US. Mayor Eric Adams likewise asked New Yorkers to stay home or shelter in place.

Brooklyn is particularly hard hit by rising water with shocking videos showing streets and subways underwater. Widespread outages and delays were reported on the MTA, the agency that runs the city’s transit system.

A severe storm lodged over the city, and parts of upstate New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, leading to widespread flood watches and warnings.

The New York area could see an unprecedented amount of rain with between two and five inches having already fallen in some areas since midnight.

Emergency alerts were sent to cellphones in the city at 9.30am local time from the National Weather Service.

“A FLASH FLOOD WARNING is in effect for this area until 12:30pm EDT,” it read. “This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.”

A travel advisory was issued by city authorities beginning at 4am on Friday through until 6am on Saturday with the potential for “widespread travel impacts”.
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Superfund site hazard

A scientist posted on X to remind New Yorkers to avoid entering the floodwater near Gowanus Canal — it is a contaminated site that contains hazardous materials, the EPA says.
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Hourly precipitation in NYC
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WATCH: New York underwater amid flash flood warning
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Flashback: Hurricane Ida floods New York in 2021

In pictures: Chaos after New York and New Jersey storms

Massive rainfall leaves more than a dozen people dead and transport paralysed in America’s biggest city
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NYC zoos are closed, due to flooding
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New York requires flood disclosures in home sales as natural disasters worsen in the state

Ahead of today’s flooding, Gov Kathy Hochul last week signed a bill requiring people selling their homes to disclose whether their properties have been flooded or are at risk for future flooding.

The new law comes as inland areas in the state have become more vulnerable to flooding, with climate change spurring on rising sea levels and more intense storms like the one impacting the city on Friday

The signing will make New York at least the 30th state in the country to require flood disclosures during home sales. New York has a similar law in place for rental properties.

The Independent’s Louise Boyle has the full story.

New York is latest state to require flood disclosures in home sales as storms worsen

The law closes a loophole in state law allowing home sellers to pay a $500 fee to avoid disclosing their home’s flood risk
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Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency across New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley, warning locals: “Plan your escape route. Don’t wait until water is over your knees before you leave. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Forecasters said the expected rainfall rate is between 1-2.5 inches in the space of an hour in some areas. Between 8am and 9am, the Brooklyn Navy Yard received 2.58 inches of rain, said Rohit Aggarwala from New York’s Department of Environmental Protection. The city’s sewer system was built to handle 1.75 inches.

“This is the result of climate change. Our climate is changing faster than our infrastructure can respond,’” Mr Aggarwala said. On a hotter planet, more moisture is held in the atmosphere meaning that storms have a greater likelihood of bringing intense rainfall.

The Independent’s Louise Boyle has the full story.

New York City declares state of emergency

‘Our climate is changing faster than our infrastructure can respond,’ says Rohit Aggarwala from New York’s Department of Environmental Protection
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Mayor Eric Adams said this is “a time for extreme caution”

The NYC mayor warned residents: “If you are home, stay home. If you are at work or school, shelter in place for now.” He outlined that transportation has been affected; some subway stations are flooded and some airports are experiencing heavy delays.
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WATCH: The heavy rain has seeped the city’s transportation
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Photos of the floods

The Independent captured shocking photos of the floods that are keeping locals indoors and submerging vehicles.

Deep floodwater plagues NYC

Bike submerged in the rainwater in NYC

NYC flooding