New York, NY — Two people have died in flooded basements across New York City as a powerful rainstorm swept through the region Thursday, shutting down roads, disrupting transit, and delaying flights at major airports.
Authorities said both victims were men trapped in basement areas as floodwaters quickly rose amid record-breaking rainfall.
Brooklyn Victim Found in Flooded Basement
Firefighters responded around 4:30 p.m. to reports of a person trapped inside the basement of a three-story townhouse in Brooklyn. According to police, a 39-year-old man was discovered by a scuba rescue team and later pronounced dead at the scene.
“A scuba team recovered the victim’s body from the flooded basement after multiple rescue attempts,” the NYPD said in a statement.
Video footage shared online showed firefighters wading through calf-deep water as they carried the victim out to the street.
Manhattan Resident Also Found Dead
In a separate incident, a 43-year-old man was found unresponsive in a flooded basement boiler room of an apartment building in Manhattan. Police confirmed that the cause of death remains under investigation pending autopsy results.
According to The Associated Press, both victims appeared to have been trapped in areas that flooded within minutes, leaving no time to escape.
Record Rainfall Across the City
The National Weather Service reported that several locations across New York City broke daily rainfall records.
- Central Park: 1.8 inches (4.57 cm) — surpassing the previous record of 1.64 inches set in 1917.
- LaGuardia Airport: 1.97 inches (5 cm) — exceeding the 1955 record of 1.18 inches.
Meteorologists said the rain fell in waves throughout the day, intensifying during the evening commute and overwhelming parts of the city’s aging drainage system.
“This was a fast-moving system that dropped a significant amount of rain in a short period of time,” a weather service spokesperson said.
Streets, Subways, and Airports Affected
Photos and videos posted on social media showed cars submerged to their bumpers, subway stations filling with water, and commuters stranded across the city. LaGuardia and JFK airports both reported flight delays due to poor visibility and standing water on runways.
City officials urged residents to avoid flooded roadways and lower-level apartments, reminding them that basements are particularly dangerous during flash floods.
City Response and Safety Measures
New York City emergency crews worked into the night to clear drains, rescue stranded motorists, and check flooded homes. Officials said they are reviewing drainage systems and flood preparedness plans to prevent similar tragedies.
“Basement flooding continues to be one of the deadliest consequences of urban flash floods,” the Department of Environmental Protection said, urging homeowners to install water sensors and backflow preventers.
Residents are advised to stay alert to weather warnings, sign up for Notify NYC alerts, and move to higher ground during heavy rain events.
What are your thoughts on how New York City can better prepare for severe flooding events? Share your views in the comments below.
