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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Climate
- Business Standard
2 dead in New Jersey after flood carries away vehicle during heavy rains
Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, noted the deaths occurred in the northern New Jersey city of Plainfield where there were two storm-related deaths July 3. AP New York Two people in New Jersey were killed after their vehicle was swept up in flood waters during a storm that moved across the U.S. Northeast overnight, authorities said Tuesday. Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, noted the deaths occurred in the northern New Jersey city of Plainfield where there were two storm-related deaths July 3. A third person was killed in North Plainfield during that previous storm. We're not unique, but we're in one of these sort of high humidity, high temperature, high storm intensity patterns right now, Murphy told reporters after touring storm damage in Berkeley Heights. Everybody needs to stay alert. The names of the two latest victims were not immediately released Tuesday. Local officials said the vehicle they were riding in was swept into a brook during the height of the storm. Emergency personnel responded quickly, but tragically, both individuals were pronounced dead at the scene, according to a statement the city posted online. The heavy rains also caused flash floods in New York and south-central Pennsylvania on Monday night into early Tuesday, prompting road closures and snarling some service on the New York City subway. Flooding in the New York subway At one stop in Manhattan, viral videos posted online showed water flooding down into a Manhattan subway station, submerging the platform while passengers inside a train watch. Another photo appears to show passengers standing on a train's seats to avoid the water beginning to soak the floor. Janno Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, told ABC 7 in New York the city's sewer system got overwhelmed by the rain and backed up into the subway tunnels and to the stations. In several cases, he said, the backup popped a manhole, creating the dramatic geyser seen in some videos. What happened last night is something that is, you know, a reality in our system, he told the TV station, noting the backup happens when more than 1 3/4 inches of rain falls in an hour. We've been working with the city of New York to try to get them to increase the capacity of the system at these key locations. Lieber said there was now full subway service, as well as full Long Island Railroad and Metro North commuter rail service after hundreds of people worked overnight to restore operations. Flooding has proven to be a stubborn problem for New York's subway system, despite years and billions of dollars' worth of efforts to waterproof them. Superstorm Sandy in 2012 prompted years of subway repairs and flood-fighting ideas, and some have been put into practice. In some places, transit officials have installed or are installing storm barriers at subway station entrances, seals beneath subway air vents and curbs to raise the vents and entrances above sidewalk level. Meanwhile, summer thunderstorms and the remains of hurricanes have repeatedly flooded parts of the subway system anew. In 2021, the remnants of Hurricane Ida killed more than a dozen New York City residents, largely in basement apartments, and sent water cascading again into subways, renewing attention to resiliency proposals. The storm's effects in New Jersey and Pennsylvania This latest storm prompted multiple water rescues in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where streets and basements flooded after roughly 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rain fell. Some roads remained closed in parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey on Tuesday. Murphy said the pavement buckled in some locations and state and local officials were assessing the level of damage in several counties, noting the White House had reached out to his office. A major east-to-west highway in New Jersey was closed to make emergency repairs while dozens of flights were delayed or cancelled at area airports Tuesday, including at least 173 total cancellations at Newark Liberty Airport, according to FlightAware data. Most flash flood watches and warnings had expired in parts of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania as the rain moved on. In one flooded North Plainfield, New Jersey, neighbourhood, a house caught on fire and collapsed. Murphy said there was an explosion at the house but the family was not home and there were no injuries. The cause was under investigation. An overwhelmed sewage system New York City officials said their venerable sewer system worked as well as it could but simply was not built to handle rain that fell at the second-highest rate ever recorded in Central Park, surpassed only by the remnants of 2021's Hurricane Ida. Imagine putting a two-liter bottle of water into a one-liter bottle. Some of it's going to spill, Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala said at a virtual news briefing Tuesday. The city doesn't run the subway system it's under the separate Metropolitan Transportation Authority but Aggarwala said the two entities have been collaborating to clean sewers near 45 flood-prone subway stations. The city also has sketched out plans to upgrade sewers to handle more water, estimating it would take USD 30 billion to do so in about 80 areas that need it most. The city currently spends about USD 1 billion a year on stormwater management.
The Hill
6 days ago
- Climate
- The Hill
2 dead in New Jersey after flood waters carry away vehicle during heavy rains that hit Northeast
NEW YORK (AP) — Two people in New Jersey were killed after their vehicle was swept up in flood waters during a storm that moved across the U.S. Northeast overnight, authorities said Tuesday. Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, noted the deaths occurred in the northern New Jersey city of Plainfield where there were two storm-related deaths July 3. A third person was killed in North Plainfield during that previous storm. 'We're not unique, but we're in one of these sort of high humidity, high temperature, high storm intensity patterns right now,' Murphy told reporters after touring storm damage in Berkeley Heights. 'Everybody needs to stay alert.' The names of the two latest victims were not immediately released Tuesday. Heavy rains moved through the Northeast on Monday night into early Tuesday, causing flash flooding. Video posted on social media appeared to show water flooding down into a Manhattan subway station, submerging the platform while passengers inside a train watch. Another photo appears to show passengers standing on a train's seats to avoid the water beginning to soak the floor. Janno Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, told ABC 7 in New York the city's sewer system got overwhelmed by the rain and backed up into the subway tunnels and to the stations. In several cases, he said, the backup 'popped a manhole,' creating the dramatic 'geyser' seen in some videos. 'What happened last night is something that is, you know, a reality in our system,' he told the TV station, noting the backup happens when more than 1 3/4 inches of rain falls in an hour. 'We've been working with the city of New York to try to get them to increase the capacity of the system at these key locations.' Lieber said there was now full subway service, as well as full Long Island Railroad and Metro North commuter rail service after hundreds of people worked overnight to restore operations. Some roads remained closed in sections of New Jersey and dozens of flights were delayed or canceled at area airports Tuesday, including 159 total cancelations at Newark Liberty Airport, according to FlightAware data. Most flash flood watches and warnings had expired in parts of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania as the rain moved on. In one flooded North Plainfield, New Jersey, neighborhood, a house caught on fire and collapsed, possibly due to an explosion, not long after the family inside had evacuated, authorities said. No injuries were reported.
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
2 dead in New Jersey after flood waters carry away vehicle during heavy rains that hit Northeast
NEW YORK (AP) — Two people in New Jersey were killed after their vehicle was swept up in flood waters during a storm that moved across the U.S. Northeast overnight, authorities said Tuesday. Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, noted the deaths occurred in the northern New Jersey city of Plainfield where there were two storm-related deaths July 3. A third person was killed in North Plainfield during that previous storm. 'We're not unique, but we're in one of these sort of high humidity, high temperature, high storm intensity patterns right now,' Murphy told reporters after touring storm damage in Berkeley Heights. 'Everybody needs to stay alert.' The names of the two latest victims were not immediately released Tuesday. Heavy rains moved through the Northeast on Monday night into early Tuesday, causing flash flooding. Video posted on social media appeared to show water flooding down into a Manhattan subway station, submerging the platform while passengers inside a train watch. Another photo appears to show passengers standing on a train's seats to avoid the water beginning to soak the floor. Janno Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, told ABC 7 in New York the city's sewer system got overwhelmed by the rain and backed up into the subway tunnels and to the stations. In several cases, he said, the backup 'popped a manhole,' creating the dramatic 'geyser' seen in some videos. 'What happened last night is something that is, you know, a reality in our system,' he told the TV station, noting the backup happens when more than 1 3/4 inches of rain falls in an hour. 'We've been working with the city of New York to try to get them to increase the capacity of the system at these key locations.' Lieber said there was now full subway service, as well as full Long Island Railroad and Metro North commuter rail service after hundreds of people worked overnight to restore operations. Some roads remained closed in sections of New Jersey and dozens of flights were delayed or canceled at area airports Tuesday, including 159 total cancelations at Newark Liberty Airport, according to FlightAware data. Most flash flood watches and warnings had expired in parts of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania as the rain moved on. In one flooded North Plainfield, New Jersey, neighborhood, a house caught on fire and collapsed, possibly due to an explosion, not long after the family inside had evacuated, authorities said. No injuries were reported. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
6 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
2 dead in New Jersey after flood waters carry away vehicle during heavy rains that hit Northeast
This image made from video shows cars submerged in floodwaters in Rahway, NJ., on July 14, 2025.(WABC-TV via AP) NEW YORK — Two people in New Jersey were killed after their vehicle was swept up in flood waters during a storm that moved across the U.S. Northeast overnight, authorities said Tuesday. Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, noted the deaths occurred in the northern New Jersey city of Plainfield where there were two storm-related deaths July 3. A third person was killed in North Plainfield during that previous storm. 'We're not unique, but we're in one of these sort of high humidity, high temperature, high storm intensity patterns right now,' Murphy told reporters after touring storm damage in Berkeley Heights. 'Everybody needs to stay alert.' The names of the two latest victims were not immediately released Tuesday. Heavy rains moved through the Northeast on Monday night into early Tuesday, causing flash flooding. Video posted on social media appeared to show water flooding down into a Manhattan subway station, submerging the platform while passengers inside a train watch. Another photo appears to show passengers standing on a train's seats to avoid the water beginning to soak the floor. Janno Lieber, chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, told ABC 7 in New York the city's sewer system got overwhelmed by the rain and backed up into the subway tunnels and to the stations. In several cases, he said, the backup 'popped a manhole,' creating the dramatic 'geyser' seen in some videos. 'What happened last night is something that is, you know, a reality in our system,' he told the TV station, noting the backup happens when more than 1 3/4 inches of rain falls in an hour. 'We've been working with the city of New York to try to get them to increase the capacity of the system at these key locations.' Lieber said there was now full subway service, as well as full Long Island Railroad and Metro North commuter rail service after hundreds of people worked overnight to restore operations. Some roads remained closed in sections of New Jersey and dozens of flights were delayed or cancelled at area airports Tuesday, including 159 total cancellations at Newark Liberty Airport, according to FlightAware data. Most flash flood watches and warnings had expired in parts of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania as the rain moved on. In one flooded North Plainfield, New Jersey, neighbourhood, a house caught on fire and collapsed, possibly due to an explosion, not long after the family inside had evacuated, authorities said. No injuries were reported. The Associated Press
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flash flooding swamps Northeast metro areas as extreme rain threatens millions
Millions across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic remain under flash flood watches early Tuesday as slow-moving summer storms brought heavy showers to the East Coast, impacting transportation and leaving people stranded in vehicles on waterlogged roads. Flooding was reported near Newark, New Jersey, New York City, northern Virginia and southern Maryland, according to the National Weather Service, with more rain to come Tuesday. A state of emergency was declared in New Jersey due to ongoing flooding, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday night, warning residents to 'remain off the roads unless absolutely necessary.' The weather service has warned that more rain is expected Tuesday after heavy showers swept east, including across New York City, which experienced its second wettest hour on record Monday night after a little over 2 inches fell between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. local time. This record is only beat by the approximately three-and-a-half inches of rain recorded during the remnants of Hurricane Ida in 2021. New York City received a total of 2.64 inches of rain, shattering its previous record for July 14th rainfall set in 1908. Videos on social media showed water gushing onto platforms in New York's subway and flowing through subway cars as passengers crouched on seats. At least one subway station was flooded by the deluge, according to a spokesperson with the Metropolitan Transit Authority. Several trains were also suspended, delayed or rerouted due to the flooding, according to MTA's website. Metro-North Railroad and New Jersey Transit said on their X accounts that they were also experiencing delays due to flooding. Several airports in the New York City area issued temporary ground stops and delays Monday evening, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Impacts to air travel were also reported at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Boston Logan International Airport. In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, cars struggled to navigate flooded streets, according to videos on social media, with multiple people needing to be assisted, according to authorities. North Plainfield, New Jersey, Mayor Lawrence La Ronde told CNN affiliate WABC that emergency crews rescued people from at least 30 homes, after streets became completely flooded and were impassable. About 30 people were sheltering overnight at a local community center, he said. Flash flood warnings were extended well in to the evening hours Monday in New Jersey's Essex and Union counties due the rain, according to the National Weather Service. In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 16 water rescues were reported in Mount Joy Township Monday afternoon, according to the Mount Joy Fire Department. 'Starting around 2:00 p.m., intense rainfall dropped over 7 inches of rain in less than five hours, overwhelming stormwater infrastructure and inundating portions of the borough,' the fire department said in a Facebook post. 'The west end of town was hardest hit, with reports of over 5 feet of water in some homes.' A photo taken by the Franklin Fire Company showed firefighters conducting a water rescue after occupants became trapped in their vehicle in flood waters. In Virginia, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency late Monday for the cities of Petersburg and Colonial Heights, where upwards of 2-3 inches of rain fell in less than 2 hours. Numerous water rescues were underway in Petersburg, it said in a post on X, as stream gauges surged to flood levels and intense rainfall rates continued. As of early Tuesday morning, more than 200,000 people remained under a flash flood warning. Millions more, including those in the Washington, DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia metro areas, are under a flood watch. Showers began developing Monday morning and dominated the Northeast by the latter half of the day as temperatures rose. The heaviest storms arrived by early evening, threatening rush hour commuters. Much of the area inside the flood watch has seen up to 300% of their normal rainfall over the past two weeks. The recent rainfall, especially in parts of central New York and Pennsylvania over the weekend, has meant the soil is more saturated, raising the risk of severe flooding. Places along the Berkshires in Massachusetts and Binghamton, New York, recorded as much as 4.5 inches of rain over 72 hours. In a typical year, the weather service office in the DC-Baltimore area issues one or two moderate risk rainfall outlooks. This July alone, there have already been three: July 1, 9 and 14. In the past month, there have only been seven days when the DC-Baltimore area wasn't under any excessive rainfall threat. Record-breaking flood events have happened nearly back-to-back in recent weeks, most notably in Texas' Hill Country, where more than 130 people died after catastrophic flooding on July 4. New Mexico, North Carolina and other East Coast states have also seen life-threatening floods and historic rainfall this month. Overwhelming rainfall is becoming more prevalent in a warming world, as rising global temperatures drive weather toward extremes. Hourly rainfall rates have grown heavier in nearly 90% of large US cities since 1970, according to a recent study from the nonprofit research group Climate Central. Storms thrive on warm, moist air, and with the nation approaching peak summer heat, this month has seen the perfect conditions for flooding rain. Heat-driven storms can drop torrential rain and tend to move more slowly and stagnate, as upper-level winds in the atmosphere weaken this time of year. In urban areas, flood risk increases in part due to infrastructure. Many roads, sewers and drainage systems in the US were not designed to handle the kind of extreme rainfall events that are now becoming more common. Concrete and pavement disrupt the natural absorption of water runoff, which keeps rain from soaking into the ground and instead sends it to storm drains that can easily overflow or become clogged with debris. This story has been updated with additional information. CNN's Jillian Sykes, Taylor Romine, Sarah Dewberry and Briana Waxman contributed to this report.
