Because of potential life-threating flash flooding over night, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the New York City Emergency Management urged New Yorkers to prepare for waves of heavy rain expected from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning.
The City is opening 51safe overnight locations at New York City Public Schools across the five boroughs. They will open at 8 p.m. on Tuesday night and remain available while dangerous conditions persist. The city is urging residents to take precautions such as:
Limiting travel during periods of heavy rain, get to a higher ground if you live in a ground floor house or apartment. Prepare a go bag with things such as medications, flashlights, batteries, phone charger, in waterproof bags. Avoid any power lines and trees that have been downed due to flooding and secure any furniture that is outside. As well as call 911 if you are in immediate danger or trapped by rising water.
“Student and family safety is always our top priority, and we are proud to open our schools in partnership with the Mamdani administration and NYC Emergency Management to ensure our school communities have the resources they need during the severe weather,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels.
“Its also easier for tree to come down with the ground already saturated,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell. “We do have the Down Tree Task Force on alert, they have been on alert a lot over the past several weeks,” she said.
The NWS has issued a flood warning for New York City from 2 p.m. Tuesday through 8 p.m Wednesday. Forecasts call for 1.5 to 4 inches of rain citywide, with rainfall rates that could reach 1 to 2 inches per hour during the heaviest periods, which means an increasing risk of flash flooding.
New Yorkers are encouraged to stay out of the floodwater, report any blocked drains or downed trees to 311, and to stay away from any downed power lines.
