State of Emergency Declared in New York as Torrential Rain Forces Residents to ‘Shelter in Place’

A State of Emergency was declared for parts of New York Friday afternoon as torrential rains flooded the city and surrounding areas, forcing authorities to tell residents to "shelter in place."

Five or more inches of "life threatening rainfall" had already hit the area.

Millions of people across the region were being warned about dangerous conditions due to the storm.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency for the city, as well as Long Island and the Hudson Valley. The danger extended across the Hudson to New Jersey, where Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla declared a State of Emergency for his city.

"Please take steps to stay safe and remember to never attempt to travel on flooded roads," Hochul said.

She said the National Guard deployed in response to the storm.

“Shelter in place,” Mayor Adams told New Yorkers at a briefing on Friday. “This is time for heightened alertness.”

“This is a dangerous weather condition and it’s not over, Adams added.

Flooding was reported across New York City.

People were rescued from six basement apartments in the city. No injuries or fatalities were reported in those incidents.

Hochul said Brooklyn was seeing some of the heaviest impacts from the storm.

“All Brooklynites should be extremely careful right now,” she warned.

The Brooklyn Navy Yard picked up 2.5 inches of rain in one hour Friday morning, which is more than the city’s sewer system is built to handle.

City officials said Friday has been the wettest day in the city since the remnants of Hurricane Ida hit the city in 2021 causing several flooding deaths.

They expected another two to four inches of rain the rest of the day.

Subway service across the city was "extremely limited" due to heavy flooding, authorities said.

Passengers on one train said they were evacuated due to flooding on the line.

MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said bus service was being expanded to get children home from public schools across the city on Friday afternoon.

150 public schools “have taken on water” but remained open the New York City School Chancellor said.

“Our kids are safe,” David Banks said.

One school was evacuated to a nearby school because of a smoking boiler that may have taken in water.

Up to five inches of rain were forecast although higher amounts in excess of eight inches were possible.

New York City Emergency Management officials warned areas that normally don’t flood were at risk due to the amount of rain falling in a short period.

“We urge New Yorkers to prepare for heavy rain and potential flooding throughout Friday and Saturday morning,” NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol said in a statement.

“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.”

There was some street flooding reported overnight in Queens.

On Friday morning there other street flooding in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The National Weather Service blamed a slow-moving coastal low for the heavy rainfall and flooding threat into Friday night.

The entire New York City region was under a Flood Watch into Friday night.

Coastal flood warnings were posted for parts of New Jersey with up to a foot of inundation above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways possible. 

Those warnings were in place until 2 p.m. on Saturday.  Forecasters warned that some partial or full road closures were possible in coastal and bayside communities.