Torrential downpours following a week of relatively constant rainfall that caused flash flooding in New York City on Friday were a result of climate change and likely reflect a new normal, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Saturday.
“Of course, we know that this is the result of climate change. Unfortunately, this is the new normal”, Hochul remarked in a speech.
Almost eight inches (20 cm) of rain fell in some areas of the United States’ most populated metropolis, allowing a sea lion at Central Park Zoo to swim temporarily outside the constraints of her pool habitat.
Forecasters predict that another several inches of rain will fall in the area before the storm system moves out to sea later on Friday.
Hochul announced a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley after warning of life-threatening floods.
She praised the authorities’ response and stated on Saturday that no fatalities had been reported despite the heavy rain.
According to the Metropolitan Transportation Agency, which oversees both the subway system and the Metro North commuter rail service, flooding has created significant inconveniences. Some metro lines were completely shut down, and numerous stops were closed. Some bus routes slowed to a halt, stranding passengers for hours. Some New Yorkers were urged not to travel unless they were fleeing a flooded area.
Hochul declared a state of emergency on Saturday, allowing for the faster allocation of resources to deal with a crisis. The state of emergency will be in place for the next six days.
The governor of New York also stated that she spoke with the White House and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and that they were prepared to support a federal disaster declaration if required.
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