Hurricane Ida Hits US Northeast... States of Emergency Declared in New York, New Jersey, and More

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Hurricane Ida swept through Louisiana in the southern United States last month and has now struck the northeastern region, including New York City, New York, and New Jersey.

On the 1st (local time), according to U.S. local media, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency across the city, warning of record-breaking heavy rain expected that night.

The city authorities banned all vehicle traffic except emergency transportation on New York City roads and highways from that night until 5 a.m. the next day. Over 3.1 inches (about 79 mm) of rain fell per hour in Central Park, Manhattan borough, and hundreds of flights were canceled at New York LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport.

Mayor de Blasio urged via social media platform Twitter, "Please do not go out on the streets tonight so that paramedics and emergency responders can do their jobs," and added, "Do not drive in this heavy rain and stay indoors."

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and New York Governor Kathy Hochul also declared states of emergency across their states starting that night, initiating state-level responses.

Governor Murphy shared the latest damage status caused by Ida on Twitter, reporting "81,740 power outages."

At Newark Airport in New Jersey, over 3.2 inches (about 80 mm) of rain fell per hour between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., leading the airport to temporarily suspend all flight operations.

Hurricane Ida formed as a tropical storm in the Caribbean on the 27th of last month, rapidly developing into a hurricane that struck Louisiana and Mississippi, causing at least four fatalities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.