ALBANY, NY – Communities across eastern New York are assessing widespread damage Saturday morning after a slow-moving storm system inundated the region with torrential rain, triggering flash floods that submerged roads, stranded motorists, and prompted emergency rescues. A State of Emergency, declared by Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday, remains in effect for New York City and several counties in the Hudson Valley and on Long Island as response efforts continue.

The storm, which intensified throughout the day on Friday, unleashed several inches of rain in a matter of hours, overwhelming drainage systems and turning streets into rivers. The National Weather Service (NWS) reported rainfall totals exceeding five inches in parts of Westchester and Suffolk counties, with Central Park in Manhattan recording over four inches, making it one of the wettest August days on record for the city.

State of Emergency Declared Amid Dire Forecasts

Anticipating the severity of the weather system, Governor Hochul issued a pre-emptive State of Emergency declaration on Thursday evening for the five boroughs of New York City, as well as Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, and Orange counties.

"This is a dangerous, life-threatening storm," Hochul stated at a press briefing in Albany. "I am declaring a State of Emergency across the most vulnerable regions of the state so we can deploy assets and get them to the right places before the storm hits. We have seen the devastating impacts of extreme weather events in the past, and we are taking this threat seriously."

The declaration authorized the state's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to coordinate response and recovery operations and mobilized state resources, including 100 members of the National Guard and swift-water rescue teams, positioning them in flood-prone areas.

Deluge Causes Widespread Disruption

The storm's peak on Friday brought much of the region to a standstill. Flash flood warnings were in effect for millions, as major transportation arteries, including the Bronx River Parkway and parts of the Long Island Expressway, were rendered impassable. Social media was flooded with images of cars submerged in murky brown water and desperate drivers climbing onto the roofs of their vehicles to await rescue.

New York City's subway system experienced significant disruptions, with water cascading onto tracks at several stations in Brooklyn and Queens, forcing service suspensions on multiple lines. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) urged residents to avoid all non-essential travel. In suburban towns across Westchester and Long Island, local fire departments and emergency responders conducted dozens of rescues, evacuating residents from flooded homes and stranded vehicles.

"The speed at which the water rose was frightening," said one resident of Mamaroneck, a Westchester town historically vulnerable to flooding. "One minute the street was fine, the next it was a rushing torrent. We've been through this before, but it never gets easier."

Response and Recovery Efforts Underway

As the rain subsided early Saturday, the focus shifted from emergency response to recovery. State and local crews are now working to assess the full extent of the damage to public infrastructure and private property. Power outages, which affected tens of thousands at the storm's height, are gradually being restored.

Officials continue to warn of lingering dangers. "Even though the rain has stopped, many roads remain closed, and some floodwaters may be electrically charged or contaminated," said Jackie Bray, Commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. "We urge all New Yorkers in affected areas to stay vigilant, avoid flooded roadways, and heed the guidance of local officials."

This event is the latest in a series of extreme rainfall incidents to strike the northeastern United States, a trend that climate scientists attribute to a warming atmosphere capable of holding more moisture. The storm underscores the increasing vulnerability of the region's aging infrastructure to the impacts of climate change, reigniting debates about the need for significant investment in climate-resilient infrastructure.