Queens hit hardest as NYPD rescues drivers and storm moves east, officials say

The NYPD said it rescued two people from two cars trapped in floodwaters on the Clearview Expressway in Queens Thursday afternoon, as heavy rain swamped parts of the city and prompted states of emergency from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams and officials in New Jersey.

Peter Cichetti, acting director of the New York State Office of Emergency Management, said Queens was hit the hardest, but the worst of the storm had shifted east toward Long Island by early evening, with some rain bands expected to stay south of the city.

He said crews will pivot Friday morning from storm response to clearing flooded roads and monitoring rivers and streams that could rise after the heaviest rain.

"With rain like this, it takes time for the streams, creeks and rivers to rise,” Cichetti said. “But sometimes that happens and we see flooding around those areas."

Officials issued a flood watch for the entire New York City area through 8 a.m. Friday, warning some neighborhoods could still see flooding.

NYC Emergency Management urged New Yorkers to avoid unnecessary travel until crews can finish clearing affected roads, noting that most major highways have reopened, but the Brooklyn Queens Expressway eastbound at Cadman Plaza, the Long Island Expressway eastbound past Springfield Boulevard and the southbound Cross Island Parkway still had lane closures as of 8 p.m.

Transit disruptions also lingered Thursday evening, with LIRR service on the Port Washington Branch suspended and delays on the Montauk and Oyster Bay branches, authorities said. Subways, buses and ferries had no weather-related disruptions, but JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports were reporting delays and intermittent ground stops, according to officials.

As of Thursday night, Con Edison reported about 1,500 customers without power citywide, with estimated restoration times of 11 p.m. for Brooklyn and Queens, 9:30 p.m. for Staten Island and ongoing repairs in the Bronx, officials said.

New York City is also under a travel advisory until noon Friday.

Hochul said she declared a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island and parts of the Hudson Valley after the National Weather Service raised the region’s flash flooding risk to moderate, with up to a 70% chance of flash flooding.

“The good news is we saw this coming: we pre-deployed all kinds of assets everywhere in terms of emergency vehicles and generators and ways to restore power if necessary, particularly in the subway,” Hochul said Thursday evening in an interview with ABC 7. “We’ve come to the other side at this point.”

Hochul said Queens recorded up to 5 inches of rain by Thursday night.

Adams also issued a state of emergency for New York City as the storm intensified, warning of damaging wind gusts up to 65 mph and hail as large as an inch in diameter.

And in New Jersey, Acting Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency for all 21 counties, warning that some areas could see up to 7 inches of rain along with damaging wind gusts.

As of 5 p.m., unofficial rainfall totals showed nearly 2 inches had fallen on Staten Island, with more than an inch recorded in parts of Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, according to NYC Emergency Management.

City officials urged residents living in basement apartments to prepare to move to higher ground.

Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol said the city has activated its Flash Flood Emergency Plan and is coordinating with the National Weather Service. He urged residents to clear debris from local catch basins and be ready to move quickly at the first sign of rising water.

In New Jersey, state officials ordered government offices to close by 1 p.m. Thursday.

Officials with the NYPD and the FDNY said they stationed vehicles in low-lying areas and readied water rescue teams for flood-prone highways like the Brooklyn Queens Expressway and the Major Deegan Expressway.

City flood-monitoring systems registered water up to 8 inches deep on Staten Island roadways, while vehicles were submerged on highways in Queens.

Cichetti reminded drivers not to walk, swim or drive through flooded areas, warning that even 6 inches of water can stall vehicles and a foot of water can sweep them away.

Uber and Lyft prices in Manhattan and Brooklyn surged past $200 as the storm intensified.

New York City sanitation officials said they were clearing sewer grates to help prevent further flooding. Crews from the Department of Environmental Protection were inspecting flood-prone areas and monitoring the city’s reservoirs and wastewater systems.

In an interview with 1010 WINS, Adams urged New Yorkers to avoid entering flooded subway stations and use NotifyNYC or other alert systems to stay informed about conditions.

“Subways are below [ground], so there's always the possibility of flooding,” Adams said. “We're asking New Yorkers, please, if you could leave early, do so. And if you see flooding conditions, don't enter the subway system.”

The Adams administration also said alternate side parking regulations will be suspended on Friday to facilitate weather operations. Parking meters will remain in effect.

This is a developing story and may be updated.