New York, NY – Hours of relentless rain and strong winds led to flash flooding across New York City, claiming the lives of two men who were trapped in flooded basements in Brooklyn and Washington Heights. The storm also caused widespread traffic chaos, subway disruptions, and airport delays as the city endured one of its heaviest downpours this fall.
The Incident: Deadly Flooding Hits Brooklyn and Washington Heights
On Thursday afternoon, bands of heavy rain swept through the city, triggering flash flood warnings across all five boroughs except Staten Island. Videos circulating on social media showed streets turned into rivers from Bushwick to Bay Ridge, with water rising as high as car headlights.
Authorities said a 39-year-old man died after entering a flooded basement on Kingston Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn, around 4:30 p.m. to save his dog. He managed to rescue one dog but never came back out after attempting to save a second.
“He saved one dog, tried to save the next and that was the last thing he did,” a friend of the victim told NBC New York.
An FDNY rescue diver recovered the unconscious man, who was pronounced dead at Kings County Hospital. Officials said the cause of death remains under investigation.
In a separate incident around the same time, a 43-year-old man was found unconscious in a flooded boiler room along West 175th Street in Washington Heights. Police said he was pronounced dead at the scene after emergency units responded amid fears of electrocution.
Investigation and Emergency Response
The FDNY and NYPD responded to multiple flood-related emergencies throughout the day. Water rescues were carried out across several boroughs, including Carroll Gardens, where firefighters pulled a driver to safety after a car became submerged at Smith Street and 9th Street.
Officials warned that 1–2 inches of rainfall per hour could easily overwhelm storm drains and low-lying areas. Between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., parts of the city saw well over an inch of rain, creating life-threatening conditions for pedestrians and motorists.
The National Weather Service (NWS) urged residents not to attempt driving through flooded streets, as just a few inches of water can disable vehicles or sweep them away.
Broader Impact: Subway and Airport Disruptions Across the City
The flooding brought much of the city’s infrastructure to a standstill. Several subway lines were suspended or delayed due to water on the tracks:
- R trains were delayed in Bay Ridge.
- 2 and 5 lines skipped stops at Newkirk Ave–Little Haiti.
- The G train was suspended between Bedford-Nostrand Avenue and Court Square.
On the roads, flooding led to significant traffic delays. The Long Island Expressway saw major backups in Queens, while the Bronx River Parkway and Hutchinson River Parkway were closed temporarily due to high water levels.
At the airports, operations slowed dramatically: Newark Airport reported arrival delays exceeding four hours, while LaGuardia and JFK experienced ground stops because of strong winds. Flights were delayed between 45 minutes and three hours throughout the evening.
Weather Conditions: Heavy Rain and Powerful Winds
The National Weather Service reported 1 to 3 inches of total rainfall across most of the region, with Boonton, New Jersey, receiving more than three inches by the end of the afternoon.
In addition to the flooding, strong east winds developed during the storm. Gusts of 30–40 mph inland and up to 50 mph along the coast created dangerous conditions. The city’s Office of Emergency Management issued a wind advisory, warning residents of the risk of flying debris and power outages.
“People should exercise additional caution when doing their daily activities,” weather experts advised, noting that winds of that magnitude can bring down branches, signs, and unsecured objects.
Minor coastal flooding was also expected during high tide in low-lying areas along the city’s waterfront.
Background and Context: Severe Weather Threat Across the Northeast
Thursday’s storm was part of a large low-pressure system moving through the Northeast, bringing heavy rainfall and isolated tornado threats in Central New Jersey. According to the Storm Prediction Center, the severe weather threat for the day was rated 1 out of 5, indicating isolated severe activity such as straight-line winds or brief tornadoes.
The storm system added to a series of extreme weather events affecting the city this year, including multiple flash flood emergencies caused by climate-related changes that have made sudden heavy rain events more common.
Ongoing Developments and Recovery
By Thursday night, the storm began to move out of the region, leaving behind strong westerly winds but dry skies for Friday. City officials said cleanup and drainage efforts were underway, with crews clearing clogged sewers and assessing property damage across Brooklyn and Manhattan.
The Office of Emergency Management urged residents to remain cautious as residual flooding and wind gusts persisted overnight.
Conclusion
The deaths of two men in flooded basements serve as a tragic reminder of the dangers posed by urban flooding in New York City. Officials continue to urge residents to avoid entering flood-prone areas, even during rescue attempts, and to heed warnings from emergency management teams during severe weather.
What are your thoughts on New York City’s flooding challenges and emergency response? Share your opinions in the comments below.
