MANHATTAN – A driver found themselves outside their car just before 10:00 pm tonight, standing knee deep water in the pounding rain after driving into flash flooding on the FDR Drive near East 78th Street on the Upper East Side.
Contact [email protected] for use | SubscribeThe driver of the small red car, along with a second person could both be seen pushing in an attempt to move the disabled vehicle through the high water.
Car after car tried to drive through the high water brought on by the remnants of Ida’s pubnishing rains– some made it through. Others did not.
Just before 10pm, a witness says police closed the roadway in the area due to that dangerous flooding caught on camera.
Around 11pm, Mayor de Blasio declared a State of Emergency for New York City, warning everyone to stay inside away from flood waters. “Don’t tempt fate,” he said.
Video taken from inside an Uber driving through one of the Central Park transverses shows cars floating in the flood waters– a terrifying situation to be in and the exact reason why experts warn that when you encounter flood waters: turn around, don’t down.
“Don’t tempt fate” @NYCMayor de Blasio declared a state of emergency for New York City, warning everyone to inside and away from flood waters. Send us your video and we’ll share it! #ues #nyc #flood #ida pic.twitter.com/LcNpMhXGaz
— Upper East Site (@uppereastsiteny) September 2, 2021
As on 11:00 pm, all subway service has been suspended citywide.
“Train service may be extremely limited tonight because of heavy rainfall and flooding across the region,” the MTA said in a statement. “We strongly recommend you avoid traveling at this time, if you can.”
After midnight, the NYPD’s 19th Precinct tweeted out video of the waterlogged FDR Drive at East 63rd street on the Upper East Side– noting in a second video that the water had brought a floating construction barrier into the roadway.
And yes, that is a construction barrier floating onto the FDR Drive.
— NYPD 19th Precinct (@NYPD19Pct) September 2, 2021
Over the next few hours as the water subsides & roadways reopen, continue to exercise extreme caution commuting, as many items may have drifted onto roadways & sidewalks. pic.twitter.com/AHLqChIlqx
Right now, the NYPD has officers and cruisers stationed stationed blocking several onramps to the highway– they’re asking everyone to just stay where you are at this point until the storm passes.
Governor Kathy Hochul has also declared a State of Emergency in New York State in response to the wrath of Ida.
Just before 1:00 am Tuesday, the NYC Department issued a travel ban for the five borough extending through 5:00 am.
Due to severe weather, there is a travel ban in effect beginning now until 5:00 AM on 9/2. All non-emergency vehicles must be off NYC streets and highways.
— NYCEM – Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) September 2, 2021
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