Tropical Storm Ophelia reaches NYC Flooding
NEW YORK, (September 29, 2023) — Cars drive through slight flooding on Ocean Avenue amid heavy rain in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn borough New York City. Flash flooding is expected in the counties of Nassau, Queens and Kings, which includes Brooklyn, according to the state’s National Weather Service office as remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia reaches the Northeast.
New Yorkers were urged to stay indoors during Friday’s downpours and flash flooding, one resident found a little opportunity in the rising waters a resident of the Central Park Zoo, that is.
A female sea lion was able to swim out of the zoo’s sea lion pool and do some exploring.
“Zoo staff monitored the sea lion as she explored the area before returning to the familiar surroundings of the pool and the company of the other two sea lions. The water levels have receded, and the animals are contained in their exhibit,” Jim Breheny, director of the Bronx Zoo and executive vice president of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Zoos and Aquarium, said in a statement Friday afternoon.
A state of emergency was also declared in the New Jersey town of Hoboken, just across the Hudson River from New York City.
No deaths or critical injuries have been reported.
In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams, warned people it was a time for “heightened alertness and extreme caution” as the state of emergency was put in place.
“Some of our subways are flooded and it is extremely difficult to move around the city,” he told a press briefing.
On Friday evening, Mr Adams told CBS, the BBC’s partner in the US, that there were 15 rescues from cars and three rescues from basement apartments.
Despite the rain easing later on Friday, Gov Hochul warned “we’re still in the throes of it”.
“My biggest concern right now is that people will see a lull in the rain and people will go out in their vehicles.
