TS Ida: New York, New Jersey declares ‘State of Emergency’ amid heavy rains

After getting affected by the heavy rain as Tropical Storm, Ida passed away from New York and New Jersey. The Governors of both New York and New Jersey announced a State of Emergency on late Wednesday. The rain breaks the records and, as a result, roads are flooded. Various news agencies have reported 9 deaths.

“I am declaring a state of emergency to help New Yorkers affected by tonight’s storm,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Twitter. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio described the flooding and weather on Wednesday night as a “historic weather event”.

Flash flood emergency had been issued by the National Weather Service for the first time in New York. Mayor Hector Lora said that one person was reported dead due to floods New Jersey city of Passaic engulfed.

According to NBC, 1 death had taken place in New York reported that one more person had died in New Jersey, and seven had died in New York City, the list includes a 2-year-old boy. The local media reported that many people had been stuck in basements.

Lora said the body of a man in his seventies was retrieved from floodwaters. The vehicle the man was riding in was swept away by the water, and firefighters were swept under the vehicle, preventing them from reaching him, CNN reported.

In a message via Twitter, City authorities said that all vehicles that are non-emergency would be banned in streets of New York until 5 a.m. This decision was taken due to the worsening condition of the weather.

The National Weather Service gave 5 flash flood emergencies on Wednesday evening, ranging from west of Philadelphia through northern New Jersey.

Safety barriers were floating in floodwaters in Williamsburg, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, U.S. September 1, 2021, in this still image taken from video obtained from social media.