Flooded roads, paralyzed subway: bad weather hits New York
The metropolis of New York, usually bustling and in perpetual motion, was hit hard by heavy rains on the night of Thursday September 28 to Friday September 29. The consequences were devastating, with roads flooded, commuter trains canceled and the metro completely paralyzed.
The images that have circulated on social networks and in local media are impressive. Roads are submerged, vehicles are blocked, some finding themselves with water up to their windows. Shopkeepers are desperately trying to clear the water from their shops and metro stations are completely flooded.
Faced with this critical situation, local authorities declared a state of emergency for New York City, as well as for the regions of Long Island and the Hudson Valley, which are regularly affected by flooding. Weather services predicted rainfall of up to 5 cm per hour, or a total of 18 cm in some areas. These bad weather are the consequences of a depression along the mid-Atlantic coast, which draws moist air from the ocean.
This situation highlights the city’s infrastructure problems in the face of extreme weather events. Indeed, New York’s commissioner of environmental protection has declared that climate change is the cause of these increasingly frequent and intense weather phenomena. Unfortunately, the city’s infrastructure is not prepared to deal with these growing climate challenges.
The subway, one of the main means of transportation for New York’s population, has been hit hard. Several lines were closed, disrupting the travel of millions of people. Getting the metro back up and running is the top priority for the authorities, particularly because of the large number of children who use it to return from school.
At the same time, La Guardia Airport was also affected by bad weather, with all access closed to Terminal A. This had an impact on air traffic, making travel even more complicated for travelers.
These events highlight the urgency for New York City to rethink its infrastructure and develop measures to address climate change. Greater investments in stormwater management, improved drainage systems and construction of flood-resistant structures are needed to ensure the safety of residents and business continuity in the city that never sleeps.
In conclusion, the bad weather that hit New York highlights the city’s vulnerabilities to extreme weather events. It is now essential to take steps to strengthen the city’s infrastructure and prepare for the challenges posed by climate change. New York’s resilience depends on it, and the safety of its residents depends on it too.