New York City experienced record-breaking rainfall that led to devastating flooding on Friday, causing widespread disruption and posing life-threatening conditions.
The excessive rainfall overwhelmed the city’s aging sewer system, leading to floodwater inundating streets, basements, schools, subways, and vehicles.
The rapid rise of floodwaters caught many commuters by surprise during the Friday morning rush hour, leading to emergency responses to rescue those in distress.
Emergency responders worked tirelessly, conducting rescues in flooded basements and addressing various incidents caused by the flooding.
New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport recorded nearly 8 inches of rainfall in a single day, a record not seen since 1948.
Additionally, Brooklyn received a month’s worth of rain in just three hours, primarily during Friday morning’s intense rainfall rates.
Climate scientists attribute these extreme weather events to climate change. A warming atmosphere has the capacity to hold more moisture, resulting in intense rainfall events that can overwhelm outdated flood protection systems.
The floodwaters infiltrated 150 of New York City’s 1,400 schools, extending to subways and railways, leading to major disruptions in transit services.
Ten train lines in Brooklyn and all three Metro-North train lines experienced suspensions.
