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NYC Flood Watch: Adams AWOL As Deluge Hits City

Mayor Eric Adams defended his late public response to disastrous heavy rain Friday: "Leadership is not only the mayor."

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In this image taken from video, a car sits stranded in flood waters at the base of the Williamsburg Bridge, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, in New York. A potent rush-hour rainstorm has swamped the New York metropolitan area.
In this image taken from video, a car sits stranded in flood waters at the base of the Williamsburg Bridge, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, in New York. A potent rush-hour rainstorm has swamped the New York metropolitan area. (AP Photo/Jake Offenhartz)

NEW YORK CITY — Mayor Eric Adams wasn't missing in action while New York City flooded Friday. He was letting other city officials "lead from the front."

Or at least that's the reason Hizzoner gave for his hours-long absence from the public eye as everyday New Yorkers grappled with heavy rain that flooded streets, basement apartment and subways, snarled commutes and delayed flights. Gov. Kathy Hochul also issued a state of emergency for the city while Adams was AWOL.

Adams ended his vanishing act shortly before noon, when he finally appeared — more than 30 minutes late — on a video briefing.

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In an uncharacteristically subdued appearance, Adams defended his complete public silence until then. He said his commissioners had ably hand

"We have good team leaders that are competent, that understand the subject matter and they know leadership is not only the mayor," he said.

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"It is all of those who are placed in those positions and that's what you saw."

PHOTOS: Big Rain Hits Big Apple

But Adams' and his administration's seeming inaction still drew widespread criticism, especially compared to the very public actions of Gov. Kathy Hochul starting Friday morning.

The governor, in addition to her state of emergency, made several media appearances to warn New Yorkers about the many inches of heavy rain expected to fall.

City Hall officials such as Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy, by contrast, had argued they adequately informed New Yorkers by sending out a "travel advisory" late Thursday and NotifyNYC.

But Public Advocate Jumaane Williams argued those actions were inadequate. He credited behind-the-scenes work by city officials, but argued New Yorkers needed to hear from the mayor "in advance of – not just in the midst of– an emergency."

"Notifying the public as soon as possible, and in real time is key," he said in a statement. "While the city's social media updates are helpful, larger rapid response tactics like a mayoral press conference and notifications from Notify NYC before the storm began would be a more effective way toward reaching the masses to ensure folks are able to plan accordingly, and may have kept people off the roads during the morning rush."

Adams' and City Hall officials' defenses did little to alter the wider perception that the mayor was absent when the city needed him. Indeed, his slow-footed response invited snark from Twitter.

And the response from many city agencies was similarly scattered. Schools officials said a Brooklyn school was evacuated, only for a Patch reporter to find out firsthand that they named the wrong building.

State Sen. Jessica Ramos, who represents portions of Queens including Corona and Elmhurst, blasted the mayor's administration for barely giving potentially affected New Yorkers proper notice of a major rainstorm.

"Why wasn't a press release sent to local community and ethnic media?" she said in as statement. "Instead, immigrant New Yorkers are now scrambling to deal with this flooding."

"When an emergency is headed our way, all other projects need to pause — and New Yorkers need to be warned. Early. Weather like this doesn't just happen."

The rainfall, which forecasters Thursday had warned of, broke records in the city.

Friday is preliminarily the wettest September day at JFK Airport, which saw more than 6 inches since midnight, according to National Weather Service records.

12:27 p.m.

NEW YORK CITY — The city's public schools will remain open Friday, despite heavy rain that caused flooding in roughly 150 school buildings, said Chancellor David Banks.

One school — PS 312 in Brooklyn — has been evacuated because of smoke from a boiler affected by water, Banks said. Students and staff were moved to IS 78, three blocks away, officials said later.

Another school, The David Boody School IS 228 in Brooklyn, did not require an evacuation, Banks said. He said a principal prematurely sent out an evacuation message.

Banks said the bulk of the city's 1,400 public school buildings have been unaffected.

"We have taken on some water, but nothing that has created an infrastructure problem where our kids are not safe," he said. "Our kids are safe."

"The conditions are worse outside of the schools."

Banks and Mayor Eric Adams defended the decision to not cancel in-person classes and have students go remote for the day.

Doing so would have been a "major, major disruption," Banks said, as the city's roads flooded and more than half of MTA subway lines were suspended.

"It is really only used as a last resort," he said.

12:01 p.m.

NYC Basement Dwellers Urged To Flee

NEW YORK CITY — New Yorkers should get out of their basement apartments as heavy rain causes major flooding throughout the city, officials warned.

Brooklyn and Queens residents are most at risk, said city Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol.

"If you live in those boroughs, are in a basement apartment or a flood-prone area, please make sure you have plans and are prepared to move to higher ground," he said.

There were six successful rescues from basement apartments as of noon Friday, city officials said.

Mayor Eric Adams issued a citywide state of emergency that piggybacks with a state declaration from Gov. Kathy Hochul.

His briefing Friday, for which he was more than 30 minutes late, was the first time all day he spoke to New Yorkers about the major flooding event.

"If you're at home, stay home," he said. "If you are at work or school, shelter in place for now."

Adams issued a citywide state of emergency that piggybacks with a state declaration from Gov. Kathy Hochul.

His briefing, for which he was more than 30 minutes late, was the first time all day he spoke to New Yorkers about the major flooding event.

"We can possibly see 8 inches of rain before the day is over," he said.

"If you're at home, stay home. If you are at work or school, shelter in place for now."

10:54 a.m.

State Of Emergency Issued In NYC

NEW YORK CITY — New York City is under a state of emergency as heavy rain causes widespread flooding, said Gov. Kathy Hochul.

"I am declaring a State of Emergency across New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley due to the extreme rainfall we’re seeing throughout the region," she announced on Twitter.

Hochul called the storm, which resulted in 7 inches of rain — with more expected — in some area, a "life-threatening event," during an interview with NBC4.

She noted that MTA subway service is severely disrupted and all three Metro-North lines are suspended. New Yorkers should avoid using the subways, she said.

"Everything is changing so rapidly that we don't want people stranded or leaving their home," she said.

Mayor Eric Adams is expected to hold a briefing at 11 a.m. It can be watched here or below.

The weather caused hundreds of flight delays at LaGuardia Airport and the closure of its Terminal A.

City officials also suspended alternate side parking for Friday and Saturday.

Related coverage:

NYC Airport Terminal Shutters, Hundreds Of Flights Delayed

10:09 a.m.

Roads Closed Across New York City Amid Downpour

NEW YORK CITY — Flooding forced closures on major New York City thoroughfares Friday, including FDR Drive, officials said.

FDR Drive and Delancey Street were fully closed in both directions, the NYPD posted on Twitter.

Several major roads in Brooklyn, which saw the heaviest impact from the storm, were also closed.

The Prospect Expressway at Caton Avenue and the Belt Parkway at Exit 6 - Cropsey Avenue saw all lanes closed in both directions, the NYPD posted.

The Cross Island Parkway from Willets Point to Bell Boulevard in The Bronx was also closed in both directions.

New York City saw widespread flooding Friday. (Mandy Gutmann)

Related coverage:

Brooklyn Flood Watch: Be 'Extremely Careful' Gov Warns BK

9:53 a.m.

Up To 7 Inches Of Rain

NEW YORK CITY — Widespread major flooding in New York City could worsen Friday as heavy rain is expected to continue into the night, forecasters warned.

Up to 7 inches of rain could fall on parts of the city, a flood watch states.

A widespread 3 to 5 inches of precipitation is more likely, with rain falling at up to 2 inches an hour, according to a National Weather Service briefing.

"Excessive runoff will likely result in scattered to numerous instances of flash flooding in urban and poor drainage areas, as well as along quick responding small rivers and streams," the briefing states. "Locally considerable flash flooding is possible if/where axis of steady heavy rain develops and sits for several hours."

The flood watch lasts until Saturday at 6 a.m., while a flood advisory and flash flood warning will end Friday at 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., respectively, according to the National Weather Service.

9:26 a.m.

Subway Service Snarled

NEW YORK CITY — Heavy rain inundated New York City, causing widespread flooding that swamped streets and snarled subway service Friday morning.

Nine MTA subway lines were either fully or partly suspended as of 9:15 a.m., with five others delayed or rerouted, transit officials said.

"There are no 2/3/4/5 train service in Brooklyn," the MTA posted.

"We'll provide more details shortly while we address water on the tracks in Brooklyn."

Northbound B service was suspended because of flooding near Newkirk Plaza, and Q trains headed north were suspended, MTA officials said.

F train service was suspended in Brooklyn and there was no G service between Bedford-Nostrand avenues and Church Avenue in either director, according to the MTA. Most southbound F trains ended at Second Avenue, officials said.

"We're working to remove water from the tracks between Bergen St and Church Av," the MTA posted.

A flash flood warning is in effect for the city until 10:30 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.

"Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Jamaica, Flatbush, Flushing, Hoboken, Coney Island, Rockaway
Beach, Crown Heights, Laguardia Airport, Midtown Manhattan, RFK
Bridge, Kennedy Airport, Jackson Heights, Forest Hills, Canarsie,
Bay Ridge, Astoria, Lower East Side, Union City, East Village and
SoHo," the warning states.

Parts of Brooklyn saw nearly 2 inches of rain overnight, according to the National Weather Service.

Brooklynites shared video and photos of flooding they saw on their streets.

Gowanus and Williamsburg appeared to bear the brunt of flooding Friday morning, with flood depth at 2 feet or more, according to a city flood tracker.

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