At Least Two Dead in NYC Floods as Heavy Rain Causes Widespread Chaos
Two people lost their lives in separate incidents as New York City struggled with severe flooding during a rainstorm on Thursday. The fatalities occurred in basements of homes in Brooklyn and Manhattan, which were inundated with water due to heavy downpours that fell throughout the city.
According to authorities, firefighters responded to an emergency call about a person trapped in a flooded basement, where they found a 39-year-old man. Rescuers later recovered his body after navigating through ankle-deep water on the sidewalk. Another victim, identified only as a 43-year-old man, was discovered dead inside the flooded boiler room of an apartment building in Manhattan.
Mayor Eric Adams attributed the city's inability to handle the rain to its aging sewer systems, which were overwhelmed by the relentless downpour. "When you look at the amount of water that was coming down, our sewer systems are just not built to handle that," he told a radio station. The situation led to widespread flooding in various neighborhoods, with some intersections turning into pools deep enough to float cars.
The hazards posed by flash flooding were again highlighted on Thursday, as authorities noted the high risk of death in basements during heavy rainfall events. This concern was raised following a similar incident in 2021, when heavy rain killed 11 people in such dwellings across the city.
The city's residents were left to navigate treacherous streets and flooded basements, with many social media posts documenting the severity of the situation. With some areas experiencing record rainfall, including Central Park, which saw 1.8 inches (4.57 centimeters) of rain – a new high since 1917 – authorities are urging caution as they deal with the aftermath of the storm.
LaGuardia Airport also reported significant flooding, with records indicating that it received over 1.97 inches (5 centimeters) of rain, shattering its previous record in 1955. The city's infrastructure was put to the test during the prolonged rainfall event, which caused airport delays and disrupted traffic.
The two deceased men have not been publicly identified, adding to the tragedy and concern for the thousands of residents living in New York City basements.
Two people lost their lives in separate incidents as New York City struggled with severe flooding during a rainstorm on Thursday. The fatalities occurred in basements of homes in Brooklyn and Manhattan, which were inundated with water due to heavy downpours that fell throughout the city.
According to authorities, firefighters responded to an emergency call about a person trapped in a flooded basement, where they found a 39-year-old man. Rescuers later recovered his body after navigating through ankle-deep water on the sidewalk. Another victim, identified only as a 43-year-old man, was discovered dead inside the flooded boiler room of an apartment building in Manhattan.
Mayor Eric Adams attributed the city's inability to handle the rain to its aging sewer systems, which were overwhelmed by the relentless downpour. "When you look at the amount of water that was coming down, our sewer systems are just not built to handle that," he told a radio station. The situation led to widespread flooding in various neighborhoods, with some intersections turning into pools deep enough to float cars.
The hazards posed by flash flooding were again highlighted on Thursday, as authorities noted the high risk of death in basements during heavy rainfall events. This concern was raised following a similar incident in 2021, when heavy rain killed 11 people in such dwellings across the city.
The city's residents were left to navigate treacherous streets and flooded basements, with many social media posts documenting the severity of the situation. With some areas experiencing record rainfall, including Central Park, which saw 1.8 inches (4.57 centimeters) of rain – a new high since 1917 – authorities are urging caution as they deal with the aftermath of the storm.
LaGuardia Airport also reported significant flooding, with records indicating that it received over 1.97 inches (5 centimeters) of rain, shattering its previous record in 1955. The city's infrastructure was put to the test during the prolonged rainfall event, which caused airport delays and disrupted traffic.
The two deceased men have not been publicly identified, adding to the tragedy and concern for the thousands of residents living in New York City basements.
The devastating consequences of heavy rain on NYC's aging infrastructure is a stark reminder of the need for systemic upgrades 
. The fact that two lives were lost due to flooded basements is a sobering warning of the risks associated with poor urban planning and outdated systems 
. As Mayor Eric Adams pointed out, the sheer volume of water overwhelmed the sewer systems, highlighting the importance of investing in modernization and infrastructure development 
. It's a worrying trend that needs to be addressed urgently to prevent further tragedies 
.
. All these new developments and buildings being built without a thought for the sewers... it's just not good enough! 
We can't keep relying on them to fix everything after it rains. The city needs to invest in some real solutions, not just Band-Aid fixes that only make it worse in the long run 
.
I mean, you gotta feel for the guys who lost their lives in those flooded basements. It's like the city's old infrastructure just couldn't handle it anymore 
And Central Park getting record rain is just wild... 1.8 inches of water?! That's insane! 
Anyways, can't wait for the city to figure out a way to deal with this stuff and not leave their residents in the dark... or literally flooded 
my parents used to live in an apartment building with really old pipes, i remember the sound of water gushing everywhere during a storm... it's crazy that some places are still dealing with these kinds of issues. and what's even more shocking is that we know about the risks but still people get caught off guard 
it's like we're not learning from our past experiences. anyway, hope everyone in nyc stays safe and dry 
this is so frustrating what's wrong with our city's infrastructure? 
Mayor Eric Adams is right tho, NYC's infrastructure needs a major upgrade ASAP 
let's hope the city recovers soon 
... and what's the cost of upgrading? 
the city's got to prioritize public safety over convenience, can't have people losing their lives just because the sewers are outdated... 
it's like, we're living in a world where natural disasters are getting more intense, and we need to adapt or face the consequences... 
my heart goes out to the families of those who lost their loved ones 
️ i can only imagine how scary it must have been for people trapped in flooded basements 
the city really needs to work on its sewer systems ASAP 
so this kind of thing doesn't happen again 
. It's crazy that they're sayin the city's infrastructure is old & outdated 
. Anyway, gotta keep an eye on this situation 
anyway, back to this NYC flood news... I mean, 43 inches of rain in one day? that's insane! did you guys see those videos of the city's sewer systems getting clogged? it's like they're saying "sorry not sorry" 
, like, we warned them about aging infrastructure but did they listen? 
1.8 inches of rain is insane! what's next? 
It's not like it's gonna break the bank 
️ mayor eric adams shoulda seen this comin tho 
but what about the ppl stuck in basements w/o a way out?? 
we need better infrastructure ASAP 
and can we pls talk about social media for a sec? 
everyone's sharing pics of flooded streets & basements but are they doin anything to help? 
1.8 inches of rain in Central Park? That's wild! I mean, I remember reading about the 1917 flood that caused so much damage, but this time it's not just about the past, its about our city being prepared for these types of events 
ugh these nyc floods r getting outta hand!! 