New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency early Thursday about an hour after New York Mayor Bill de Blasio declared one due to what he called “a historic weather event … with record-breaking rainfall throughout the city, brutal flooding and dangerous conditions on our roads,” while remnants of Hurricane Ida ran along the east coast.
The rains were blamed for at least five deaths: four in New York City and a 70-year-old Passaic man, New Jersey Mayor Hector Lora said he was swept away by the waters. He said he had unconfirmed reports of additional deaths. Divers were looking for other possible victims of people who needed to be rescued.
Lora ordered the evacuation of residents in the center of Passaic due to concern over rising levels of the Passaic River and high tide around 5 p.m.
De Blasio said approximately 5,300 customers were without electricity.
The severe weather band also caused the FAA to issue a “ground stop” at all three New York City airports. The New York subway was closed and Long Island Railroad service was suspended.
Hochul and Blasio’s statements came after the first instant flood emergency for parts of the city that the New York National Meteorological Service’s office ever issued. It included Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Queens district.
The New York office tweeted that the difference between a more frequent flash flood warning and a flash flood emergency was that “This was an extremely rare event with 6-10” of rainfall falling over a period of ‘hours. Take these warnings (and emergencies) seriously !! “
The flood emergency in the city was the second declared by the New York NWS office. The first arrived an hour earlier, in northern New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy he declared a state of emergency Wednesday afternoon.
The NWS issued an instant flood emergency for parts of Connecticut when the front of the system moved to New England.
New York City’s famous Central Park received 3.15 inches of rain between 8:51 p.m. and 9:51 p.m., breaking a record set in 1913 at the one-hour maximum in the city, according to the weather producer of CBS News, David Parkinson.
The Newark Liberty International Airport air traffic control tower was evacuated amid tornado alerts.
“All flight activities are currently suspended and travelers are advised to contact their airline for the latest information on the resumption of flights and services,” the airport reports. he tweeted. “Passengers are being diverted from flooded areas above ground level.”
The video captured by Camilo Henao showed the subway flooding on 23rd Street in Manhattan:
The video tweeted Wednesday night shows major flooding in Queens:
The same storm band traveled Wednesday through Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with reports of tornadoes in Maryland and New Jersey. Ida touched down in Louisiana Sunday like a monster Category 4 hurricane.