New York declares a state of emergency as torrential flooding ravages city

The government of New York City, on Thursday, September 2, declared a state of emergency after torrential rain caused heavy flooding resulting to reports of numerous water rescues.

In New York City, a travel ban was implemented until 5 a.m Friday. According to an emergency alert sent by the government to citizens. All non-emergency vehicles must stay off the road, the alert said as the city’s subway lines were suspended due to the flooding.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority website announced that only the “7” line and the Staten Island Railway were operating with delays.

“We’re enduring an historic weather event tonight with record breaking rain across the city, brutal flooding and dangerous conditions on our roads,” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Twitter.

“We will have a tough few hours coming up until we get the rain out of here,” de Blasio told CNN affiliate WCBS.

“I have never seen this much rainfall this quickly. It is absolutely astounding … We are talking three inches, four inches in an hour. Unbelievable accumulation.”

“The rain was far more than anyone really expected,” and left the region in “a very dire situation.”

“We can take all the precautions in advance, and we did deploy our assets to be on the ground in anticipation, but mother nature will do whatever she wants, and she is really angry tonight,”

The National Weather Service in New York urged people to stay off the roads.

“We are seeing way too many reports of water rescues and stranded motorists. Do not drive through flooded roadways. You do not know how deep the water is and it is too dangerous,” the weather service said.

Rescuers have been removing people from flooded roadways and subways across New York City, the New York Fire Department said

As at Thursday morning, water rescues were taking place and numerous roads have been closed.

Meanwhile in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy also declared a state of emergency, urging residents to “stay off the roads, stay home, and stay safe.”

“Five inches of rain just doesn’t happen in this region very often,” said CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller.

“We could easily see some deadly flash floods like we saw in Tennessee last week.”

In Maryland, one person died and another is missing after the remnants of Ida flooded an apartment complex Wednesday, Montgomery County officials said.

While a person died due to flooding in the Guesses Fork area of Hurley, Virginia, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office said.