By Olivia Finer
During October, New York City had been hit with storms causing massive flooding on the streets and in the subways of the city. A state emergency and flash flood warnings were issued on Friday to all five bureaus. There were record-breaking amounts of rainfall, with John F. Kennedy Airport receiving 8.65 inches of rain at nightfall. City residents shared on social media videos of vehicles driving through floods, covering the base of their tires. Both trains and flights were closed or delayed until the rain stopped, trapping people within the city. New Yorkers were faced with the challenges of cleaning up what has been left from the storm and dealing with a troubling future for the city if these similar events keep occurring. Officials told citizens to stay home, with New York Major Eric Adams telling New Yorkers to stay home and that they “could possibly see 8 inches before the day is over” (ABC News). First responders have been called to reduce 15 apartments due to flooding because they are at the basement level, along with community members checking in on other residents to ensure that everyone is safe while dealing with the harsh weather.
Social media has been a big contributor in showing what New Yorkers faced during the storm. Many videos show the high winds being pushed against citizens walking and causing their umbrellas to fold and turn inside out while moving through ankle-deep water. Other photos show drivers moving through the city and videos on the app Tik Tok show how Ubers were still able to get citizens home when the trains failed to work due to flooding in the subways. A major video that appeared was a drainage surrounded by water but continues to take water in. Information has been able to spread faster and alert many of the residents of the weather, showing both the extreme results of the storm and how residents were staying safe.
Along with the climate crisis due to the increase in rainfall, New York City is also experiencing water problems with the weight of the buildings, causing the city to be in danger of flooding and sinking. It is estimated that each year, the city subsides 1-2mm on average but differs with some areas doubling the rate. Factors such as glaciers melting and New York being built upon rivers and waterways put an influx of water within the city that is unable to be directed elsewhere. According to The Guardian, the ocean water in the Atlantic Ocean has risen by about 9in, or 22cm, since 1950, causing an increase in flooding rates, especially during a storm. With the current climate events, it's estimated that storms are now going to be four times as frequent and residents will be facing more weather-related events in the future. With the extensive rainfall inflicted, the soil has begun to become softer, making the buildings easier to sink. Tom Parsons, a geophysicist at the US Geological Survey, spoke of how the pressure the buildings are putting on the soil is something “we've just got to keep in mind every time you build something there you push down the ground a little bit more."As the future progresses and storms emerge, new information and data will be collected into what challenges New York will have to face. Home to 8 million people, the worsening climate crisis threatens the livelihoods of the residents of the city along with the infrastructure that has been built.
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