New Yorkers cope with the aftermath of flash floods
- NYC was hit by heavy flooding Friday after getting nearly five inches of rain by mid-morning
- If you have water damage, locate the source, remove the water, and assess the area for mold
Heavy rain falls on the corner of Seventh Avenue and 5th Street at around 12:30 p.m. in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Celia Young
A heavy rainstorm flooded several New York City streets, shuttered certain subway routes, and drenched residents indoors and out on Friday.
Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for NYC, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley due to “extreme rainfall,” and the National Weather Service put out a “considerable” flash-flood warning for Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.
“Please take steps to stay safe and remember to never attempt to travel on flooded roads,” Hochul said in a statement on the social media platform “X.”
Gotham could see up to eight inches of rain by the end of the day, said Mayor Eric Adams during a noon briefing, several hours after the rainfall began.
“This is a time for heightened alertness and extreme caution,” Adams says. “If you are home, stay home. If you are at work or school, shelter in place for now. Some of our subways are flooded and it's extremely difficult to move around the city.”
Heavy overnight rains already led some Brooklyn locals to abandon their cars on the Prospect Expressway and wade through knee-deep water to escape. Other residents saw sewage flood into their apartments, according to New York state assembly member Emily Gallagher, who posted a video of the flooding on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Reports from tenants of raw sewage flooding a building in our district. This issue is known to the owners and management—it happened before just a few months ago. Who's the owner? Hard to say, since it's an anonymous LLC. We are working with the tenants to get accountability. pic.twitter.com/LgW6yI8HGj
— Emily Gallagher (@EmilyAssembly) September 29, 2023
While rain stopped and started throughout the day, Friday’s flooding is unlikely to be the last to hit NYC. Floods are expected to grow worse thanks to the impact of climate change on NYC’s neighborhoods and buildings.
If you’re dealing with flood damage to your home, make sure to find the source of the flood water right away. Remove any standing water and elevate or relocate furniture to avoid damage. Once you and your belongings are safe, make sure to assess your apartment for mold. You can read the rest of Brick Underground’s advice on dealing with water damage here.
You can also check out photos of flash flooding in south Brooklyn below. (Only one reporter was slightly drenched in the making of this article).
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