At least seven people were killed in flooding overnight in New York City from Wednesday to Thursday in the wake of Hurricane Ida, police sources said.
Kathy Hochul, the governor of the State of New York, and Bill de Blasio, the outgoing mayor of the economic and cultural capital of the United States, have declared a "state of emergency" following the massive flooding which potentially affects some 20 millions of inhabitants.
A "historic meteorological event"
Downpours fell on New York overnight from Wednesday to Thursday as the remnants of the hurricane passed, which, after hitting the southern United States, brought tornadoes and historic flooding to the Northeast. country.
Bill de Blasio, the outgoing mayor of the metropolis, deplored in a tweet a "historic meteorological event", also decreeing "a state of emergency" in his city.
Hundreds of flights have been canceled at New York's Newark, LaGuardia and JFK airports.
According to the National Weather Service, this state of emergency due to sudden flooding is a first in the history of the megalopolis, already struck in October 2012 by Hurricane Sandy.
Downpours fell from 9:30 p.m. (01:30 GMT) in New York, where according to several videos tweeted by the NWS streets were flooded in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, making traffic impossible.
"Do not drive on flooded roads"
“Don't drive on flooded roads.
We don't know anything about the depth and it's too dangerous.
Turn around and don't drown!
"Urged the weather service.
Impressive tornadoes have been seen in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland.
Heavy rains and winds also swept through Westchester County, north New York, with many home basements flooded within minutes.
Photos obtained by AFP show basements and ground floors of homes with at least 50 cm of water, ruining furniture, rugs, clothes and toys.
State of emergency also declared in New Jersey
In New Jersey, hit by torrential rains, a state of emergency has been declared by Governor Phil Murphy.
In addition to New York and its surrounding area, Philadelphia has also been placed on tornado alert.
“Take shelter NOW.
The flying debris will be dangerous for those who are not sheltered, ”tweeted Notify NYC, a New York City emergency communications program.
A surreal scene unfolded in Flushing Meadows, where rain swept over a well-covered tennis court, interrupting a US Open second round match between South African Kevin Anderson and the Argentinian Diego Schwartzman.
Water has passed through all four corners of the hall's retractable roof, put in place in 2018 to precisely allow matches to be played despite the rain.
New York already affected a few days ago
At the end of August, New York and its region had already been affected by Hurricane Henri.
The bad weather, on August 21, had prematurely ended the big concert given in Central Park, supposed to symbolize the return to a more festive life after the coronavirus pandemic.
Hurricane Ida, downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone, brought heavy rains in its wake, which caused extensive flooding on the east coast of the United States.
"Post-tropical cyclone Ida brings widespread heavy rains and flash floods that can pose a fatal risk along and near its path," said the National Hurricane Center.
Ida is then expected to continue her journey north and head to New England on Thursday.
Biden in Louisiana Friday
President Joe Biden will travel to Louisiana on Friday, where Hurricane Ida, which made landfall there on Sunday, destroyed buildings and left more than a million homes without electricity.
Hurricanes are a recurring phenomenon in the southern United States.
But the warming of the ocean surface is helping to make storms more powerful, scientists warn.
In particular, they pose an increasingly significant risk to coastal communities that are victims of wave-submersion phenomena amplified by rising sea levels.
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