New York City mayor declares state of emergency after record-breaking rain
NEW YORK CITY MAYOR Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency on Wednesday night due to what he called a 鈥渉istoric weather event鈥 with record-breaking rain across the city leading to flooding and dangerous conditions on the roads.
Nearly all New York City subway lines were suspended late on Wednesday as the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida brought drenching rain and the threat of flash floods and tornadoes to parts of the northern mid-Atlantic, CNN reported earlier.
At least five flash-flood emergencies were issued Wednesday evening by the National Weather Service, stretching from just west of Philadelphia through northern New Jersey.
Earlier in the night, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also declared a state of emergency in response to Ida.
Storm damage from Ida astounded officials on Wednesday three days after the powerful hurricane pounded southern Louisiana, as reconnaissance flights revealed entire communities devastated by winds and floods.
Tornadoes spawned by the storm ripped through parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, images on social media showed. At least nine homes were destroyed in Mullica Hill, New Jersey, Philadelphia鈥檚 NBC10 television station reported.
New Jersey鈥檚 Newark Liberty Airport said on Twitter it was experiencing 鈥渟evere flooding.鈥 It said it resumed 鈥渓imited flight operations鈥 close to midnight after all flight activity was suspended late on Wednesday.
New York City also experienced flooding, with social media images showing water gushing over subway platforms and trains.
Subway service was 鈥渆xtremely limited鈥 due to the flooding, the Metropolitan Transit Authority said.
The New York City mayor urged people to not go outside.
鈥淧lease stay off the streets tonight and let our first responders and emergency services get their work done. If you鈥檙e thinking of going outside, don鈥檛. Stay off the subways. Stay off the roads. Don鈥檛 drive into these heavy waters. Stay inside,鈥 he said on Twitter. 鈥 Reuters
