The New York City Emergency Management Department (EMS) issued a travel advisory for Friday, Sept. 29 through Saturday morning, Sept. 30, in light of prevailing heavy rain, and Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency on Friday morning for New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley, affecting about 25 million people in the New York metropolitan area, due to the impacts of severe flooding.

 

“Heavy rain & flooding will continue for the rest of the today & travel conditions are dangerous,” Hochul said on Friday. “It is critical New Yorkers exercise caution & take steps to stay safe. Avoid walking or driving on flooded roads, which are some of the most dangerous places during flash floods.”

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Flood Watch for New York City from 2 a.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Saturday. According to the latest NWS forecast, heavy rain is expected to continue citywide through Saturday night.

EMS officials said citywide average rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are forecast, with locally higher amounts in excess of 5 inches are possible. Persistent heavy rainfall may result in numerous flash floods, they said. The excessive rain runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Potential street flooding may also occur. Widespread travel impacts are possible, particularly during the morning commute. There are no significant winds hazards or thunderstorms expected, they said.

 

The sound of emergency sirens and beeping car horns could be heard throughout The Bronx for much of Friday, as emergency vehicles attempted to assist those obviously in need of help.

EMS Commissioner Zach Iscol said New York City would be under the flood watch starting Friday and urged New Yorkers to be prepared for heavy rain and potential flooding throughout Friday and Saturday morning. He added, “All New Yorkers need to exercise caution. If you must travel, consider using public transportation and allow for extra travel time, and if you must drive, do not enter flooded roadways. If you live in a basement apartment, especially in a flood prone area, be prepared to move to higher ground.”

EMS officials said the department and its partners have activated the “Flash Flood Plan” and are working with the National Weather Service to monitor conditions. They said crews from the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) are inspecting and cleaning catch basins in neighborhoods and roads vulnerable to flooding. For access to timely and accurate updates, New Yorkers should sign up for the City’s emergency alert system Notify NYC and follow NYC Emergency Management on social media.

On Thursday, Sept. 28, City Councilman Eric Dinowitz’s office shared the following message on his social media channels, “Are you experiencing flooding? Contact my office to get free inflatable flood barriers for your home!”

 

U.S. Senate Majority Speaker Chuck Schumer and his colleagues have written to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to urge the agency to stand ready, if requested, to work with affected New York City counties and New York State to respond to the impacts of the prevailing floods and if the State requests it, to make assistance available through a disaster declaration “as expeditiously as possible.”

Schumer wrote, “In the early morning of September 29, 2023, New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley region was hit by up to four inches of rain that has caused flash flooding, with additional rain expected throughout the rest of the day.”

 

He continued, “Today’s rain follows days of previous rain, making this month the second wettest September in New York City history, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has suspended subway service on several lines in Brooklyn due to water on the tracks, many roads are impassible due to flooding, and basement apartments in the city have flooded, damaging homes and threatening life and property,”

Schumer and his colleagues said the NWS warned that the tri-state area faces a Level 3 of 4 “moderate” risk for flash flooding. “With so
many New Yorkers affected, we urge FEMA to stand ready to participate in a Preliminary Damage Assessment with state and local officials, should the state request it.” They added, “We are grateful for the prompt attention that the federal government has historically given in responding to disasters impacting New York State. In that spirit, we strongly urge you to approve any forthcoming requests for FEMA assistance from New York State as affected communities begin their recovery from these floods.”

Safety Tips

• Allow for extra travel time. New Yorkers are urged to use public transportation.
• If you must drive, drive slowly. Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible.
• If you live in a basement apartment in a flood prone area, prepare to move to higher ground.
• Do not drive into flooded streets or enter flooded subway stations.
• Check on friends, relatives, and neighbors, especially older adults and people with disabilities, access and functional needs, or health conditions. Help them to prepare if needed.
• Stay informed. Before and during an emergency, the City will send emergency alerts and updates to New Yorkers through various channels, including Notify NYC. Sign up for emergency notifications at NYC.gov/NotifyNYC or call 311. You can also follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

 

The Williamsbridge Oval park running track and playing field in Norwood resembled more of a lake on Friday evening after several hours of constant rain. Watch a video here.

 

For more safety tips, visit NYC.gov/SevereWeather. New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency notification system, to stay informed about the latest weather updates and other emergencies. Notify NYC is available in 14 languages including American Sign Language. To learn more about the Notify NYC program or to sign up, visit NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, call 311, or download the free app for your Android or Apple device. You can also follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.