New York City has declared a state of emergency after heavy rain caused flash floods that disrupted subway services and flooded roads on Friday.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the emergency declaration on Twitter, urging residents to stay home and avoid traveling on flooded roads. She said the rainfall was “a dangerous, life-threatening storm” that affected the city, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley.
“Please take steps to stay safe and remember never to attempt to travel on flooded roads,” she wrote.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) also advised people to “stay home if you don’t need to travel” as service across its network was “severely disrupted” by the extreme weather. The MTA posted videos and photos of water gushing into subway stations and trains, creating hazardous conditions for commuters.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flash flood warning for parts of New York City until 11:30 p.m. on Friday, saying that “life-threatening flooding” was expected. The NWS said that some areas could receive up to six inches of rain by Saturday morning.
The flash floods came as the city was still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, which killed at least 13 people and caused widespread damage last week. Hochul said that the state was working with federal and local partners to provide assistance and resources to the affected communities.
