New York City, NY — A powerful rainstorm that slammed New York City on Thursday left behind heartbreaking tragedy, claiming the lives of two men in separate flooding incidents.
A 39-year-old man drowned while trying to rescue his dogs from his flooded Brooklyn basement, while another 43-year-old man was electrocuted in Washington Heights as he worked on a boiler during the storm.
Brooklyn Man Dies Trying to Save His Dogs
Emergency crews were dispatched to a home on Kingston Avenue near Rutland Road in Flatbush, Brooklyn, shortly after 4:00 p.m., according to the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Fire Department of New York (FDNY).
The FDNY scuba team entered the flooded basement, where they found the victim unresponsive. Sources said the man had escaped the flooding but tragically returned inside to try to save his dogs.
A bystander’s video showed FDNY firefighters and divers carrying the man’s limp body through ankle-deep water as the storm continued to drench the neighborhood. He was rushed to Kings County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the dogs survived the incident.
Second Tragedy in Washington Heights
Roughly 30 minutes later, tragedy struck again in Washington Heights, where a 43-year-old man was found unresponsive inside a flooded boiler room on West 175th Street around 4:30 p.m.
Police said the man had been working on a boiler when the flooding occurred. Preliminary reports suggest that he was electrocuted while trying to fix the equipment amid the rising water.
Emergency responders pulled him from the basement, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Both victims’ identities are being withheld until their families are notified. The city medical examiner is conducting autopsies to determine the official causes of death.
Ferocious Rainstorm Slams New York City
Thursday’s torrential downpour delivered chaos across the five boroughs, with an inch of rain falling in just 10 minutes in some areas. Streets quickly turned into rivers, flooding homes, basements, and subway stations, as per The Post.
The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) issued flash flood warnings for Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Manhattan at 4:16 p.m., urging residents to avoid flooded roadways and move to higher ground. Officials specifically warned those living in basements to evacuate immediately or move to higher floors.
Despite these warnings, the sudden intensity of the storm overwhelmed the city’s drainage systems, leaving many with little time to react.
Authorities Urge Caution Amid More Unstable Weather
As cleanup continues, officials urge residents to remain alert for flash flood warnings, secure basement exits, and keep emergency supplies on hand.
New York City has experienced increasingly intense rainfall in recent years, raising concerns about infrastructure resilience and climate-related flooding.
How did the storm affect your neighborhood? Do you think New York City needs stronger flood safety measures to protect residents in vulnerable areas?
Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.
