New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency Wednesday night, as the remnants of Hurricane Ida dumped historic rainfall in the tri-state area. For the first time ever, the National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Emergency for New York City, Jersey City, and other parts of Northeast New Jersey.
A travel ban was issued till 5am on all non-emergency vehicles on city streets and highways in New York City. Meanwhile, the WTC/NWK and JSQ/33rd PATH trains were both temporarily suspended as a result of flooding. (Service has since resumed, however, WTC/NWK trains are bypassing the Harrison station in both directions).
BREAKING: I’m declaring a STATE OF EMERGENCY EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY in response to Tropical Storm Ida.
We will use every resource at our disposal to ensure the safety of New Jerseyans.
Stay off the roads, stay home, and stay safe.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) September 2, 2021
Although the storm has passed, officials in NJ are reporting approximately 81,740 power outages statewide. Locally in Jersey City, residents have posted videos of flooding at Lackawanna on Grove as well as in the Heights, Bergen-Lafayette, and downtown. There were even videos of what appeared to be “tiny snakes” shown swimming through parts of Hoboken.
Safety officials are requesting that residents not make any unnecessary travel plans as roads may still be flooded.
https://youtu.be/GJgfq3KnTAo
@StormTeam4NY this is the Jersey City Heights. pic.twitter.com/XpoJssiZeF
— Annie Sprague (@Catgirl124) September 2, 2021
my street as of 1 hr ago, and btw I live on a hill #HurricaneIda #jerseycity #flooding pic.twitter.com/VRXv3ahlUL
— BladeMasterRUSH (@BladeMasterRUSH) September 2, 2021
15 minutes ago cars were making it. Roads now #flooded from #Ida in Jersey City #nyc @DavidMuir @NBCNews @cnnbrk @NPR #TylerHurricanOsterman pic.twitter.com/wFxU9jryMr
— Tyler Osterman (@TJ_Osterman) September 2, 2021
I’m case you needed yet another reason to not go in flood waters in Hoboken I present to you tiny snakes! pic.twitter.com/4ExorAxZAW
— Nick Lenzi (@nlenzi) September 2, 2021