September 2, 2021
The alerts and warnings from Notify NYC throughout the afternoon and evening yesterday grew steadily more ominous as remnants of Hurricane Ida reached our City.
Before the night was over, there’d been a tornado warning and our first ever flash flood emergency issued in addition to a nearly Biblical downpour, a travel ban and actual widespread flash flooding. More than 7″ of rain fell on Manhattan. The recently set Central Park record for most rainfall in an hour (2″) was shattered (3.15″). Thirteen flood related deaths were reported by NYPD. Governor Hochul said she’d accepted President Biden’s offer of any Federal Assistance New York needs and that a preliminary damage assessment will be conducted along with FEMA.
“Our hearts ache for the lives lost in last night’s storm, Please keep them and their loved ones in your thoughts today.”
~Mayor de Blasio
The morning light revealed extensive damage that included fallen trees, collapsed structures, and a surreal Major Deegan Expressway that looked like a river full of half submerged vehicles under a brilliant blue sky. The Gazette headed up to Marble Hill to take a look around. Locals surveying the scene all agreed: they’d never seen anything like it before.
