New York City: State of emergency declared over flash flooding

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News Article :-
A state of emergency has been declared in New York City as strong storms bring flash flooding.

Many of the city's subway systems, streets and highways have flooded, while at least one terminal at LaGuardia Airport closed on Friday.

Up to 8in (20cm) of rain fell in some parts of the city, and another few inches are expected later on Friday, forecasters said.

"This is a dangerous, life-threatening storm," Governor Kathy Hochul has said.

"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," Gov Hochul said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
She urged people to take steps to stay safe and "never attempt to travel on flooded roads".

No deaths or critical injuries have been reported.

A state of emergency was also declared in the New Jersey town of Hoboken, just across the Hudson River from New York City.

In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams, warned people it was a time for "heightened alertness and extreme caution" as the state of emergency was put in place.

"Some of our subways are flooded and it is extremely difficult to move around the city," he told a press briefing.

On Friday evening, Mr Adams told CBS, the BBC's partner in the US, that there were 15 rescues from cars and three rescues from basement apartments.

Flooding caused major disruptions to New York's subway system and the Metro North commuter rail service, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Agency. Some subway lines were suspended entirely, and many stations were closed.

In Mamaroneck, a Westchester County suburb north of the city, emergency officials used inflatable rafts to rescue people trapped in buildings by floods, Reuters reported.

Pictures and video footage showed people wading through water reaching up to their knees, as streets and subways were hit by heavy rain. Several videos posted to social media appeared to show water pouring from the ceiling and walls of subway stations and onto inundated platforms.

More than 2.5in of rain was reported in one hour in Brooklyn Navy Yard. In a virtual briefing, New York's chief climate officer Rohit Aggarwala said that the city's sewage system was only designed to handle 1.75 inches an hour.

"It's no surprise that parts of Brooklyn have borne the brunt of this," he said.

In South Williamsburg, Brooklyn, workers waded through knee-high water as they tried to unclog a drain as cardboard and other debris floated by.

One resident, Kelly Hayes, told the BBC that she estimated that the flood damage to her bar and kitchen in the Gowanus neighbourhood will cost between $25,000 and $30,000.

Terminal A at La Guardia Airport was closed because of flooding, authorities said.

Passengers were advised to check with their airline before travelling.

The New York Police Department also announced multiple road closures and said the National Guard had been deployed.

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