Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a state of emergency on Wednesday night due to “historic weather event” that caused floods and unsafe driving conditions.
On Wednesday night, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency due to what he called a “historic weather event,” with record-breaking rain across the city causing flooding and perilous driving conditions.
According to CNN, nearly all New York City subway lines were suspended late Wednesday as Tropical Storm Ida’s leftovers delivered heavy rain and the possibility of flash floods and tornadoes to sections of the northern mid-Atlantic.
Due to the weather, all non-emergency cars were prohibited from driving on New York City streets until 5 a.m. (0900 GMT) on Thursday, according to city officials on Twitter.
The National Weather Service issued at least five flash flood warnings on Wednesday evening, spanning from just west of Philadelphia to northern New Jersey.
In reaction to Ida, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced a state of emergency earlier in the evening.
Storm damage from Hurricane Ida shocked officials three days after the strong hurricane hit southern Louisiana, as reconnaissance aircraft revealed entire parishes ravaged by wind and flooding.
Tornadoes triggered by the storm slammed through sections of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to photographs posted on social media. At least nine homes were damaged in Mullica Hill, New Jersey, according to NBC10 in Philadelphia.
New Jersey’s Newark Liberty Airport said on Twitter it was experiencing “severe flooding”. It said it resumed “limited flight operations” close to midnight after all flight activity was suspended late on Wednesday.
NYC also experienced floods, with photographs on social media showing water flowing over subway platforms and trains.
According to the Metropolitan Transit Authority, subway service was “extremely limited” as a result of the floods.
Janno Lieber, interim chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), said in a statement that first responders evacuated passengers from the subway system.
The mayor urged people to not go outside.
“Please stay off the streets tonight and let our first responders and emergency services get their work done. If you’re thinking of going outside, don’t. Stay off the subways. Stay off the roads. Don’t drive into these heavy waters. Stay inside”, he said on Twitter.
Image Credit: Reuters