Severe storms unleashed torrential rainfall across the East Coast on Monday, July 14th, causing deadly flash floods, halting transportation, and prompting emergency declarations in New York and New Jersey.
New York City recorded 2.07 inches of rain in just one hour, marking the second-wettest hour in the city’s history. The deluge overwhelmed the city’s stormwater infrastructure, which is built to handle a maximum of 1.75 inches per hour. The downpour from the storms flooded subway platforms, with footage capturing water pouring into stations, such as the 28th Street stop in Manhattan. Substantial delays and suspensions disrupted service on the 1, 2, and 3 train lines, while M and R trains faced significant slowdowns in Queens due to submerged tracks.
Major roadways such as the Cross Bronx Expressway and Saw Mill River Parkway were temporarily closed due to the flooding from the storms. Commuters also faced delays at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports as the storm system moved through the region.
In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency as widespread flooding from the storms affected cities including Plainfield, Somerville, and North Plainfield. In Plainfield, two individuals lost their lives when their vehicle was swept into Cedar Brook during peak storm conditions. Emergency crews responded swiftly, but both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities are being withheld pending notification to their families.
North Plainfield experienced a house explosion around 11:30 p.m., which authorities believe was related to the storms. Firefighters arrived to find the home already consumed by flames. Fortunately, the family had evacuated to safety prior to the explosion.
The flooding led to numerous rescues, with emergency responders using construction vehicles and even residents’ cars to retrieve people from submerged vehicles.
Although floodwaters began to recede by early Tuesday, some areas remained submerged. Meteorologists warned that while more rain from passing storms was expected later in the day, it was unlikely to match Monday’s intensity.
