WORLD WORLDWIDE USA New York NY New York City NYC News Journal Update - THE CITY SCOOP: City Caught Flat-Footed on Flood as Deluge Dredges Up Past Lessons

 

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If you know anyone who might like this newsletter, send it to them. If this was sent to you by someone else, subscribe here — it's free!  Dear New Yorkers, Record rainfall soaked New York on Friday, disrupting public transportation and schools while flooding streets and homes as the city struggled to cope with the deluge.  Mayor Eric Adams, however, only spoke to New Yorkers just before 12 p.m. — well after the horrific morning commute and hours after Gov. Kathy Hochul had declared a state of emergency. Later in the evening, the mayor brusquely dismissed criticism of his administration’s handling of the storm, saying in multiple media appearances that New Yorkers caught off guard “had to be living under a rock.” Many of his constituents weren’t having it. “Every time climate change events happen — and we’re seeing it happen in real time — we’re seeing less and less planning, and it’s the kids who have to suffer,” said Jennifer Salgado of The Bronx, on Friday, who had to get a cab for her sister to come home early from high school in downtown Manhattan. The deluge also overwhelmed the city’s sewer system. While the city has been making progress with infrastructure projects that will help accommodate downpours, it’s nowhere near as prepared as it needs to be, resiliency experts told THE CITY. Read more here. In other news: You Asked, We Answered: What Happens to the Rats When NYC Floods? With the widespread flooding that soaked the city on Friday, what happened to the rats? According to Jason Munshi-South, a Fordham University biology professor who has studied New York City rodents, some rats drowned, but others survived by virtue of agility. During flash floods, rats in sewers or burrows may be “washed away or drowned in place,” Munshi-South said. “They are also quite capable of swimming, climbing, running quickly, etc., so would be able to escape minor water issues.”  You might see a drowned rat carcass swept away in the city’s rivers, but some will remain underground, he said. After Hurricane Ida in September 2021, dead rats appeared on sidewalks and shores. Of course, not all areas of the city experienced flooding, so rats in those places would be fine. In any case, Munshi-South didn’t think the floods would make much of a dent in the city’s overall rat population, though severely flooded areas might notice a difference. — Samantha Maldonado Some other items of note: While New Yorkers were cautioned to stay home and avoid travel during Friday’s pummeling rainstorm, migrants at a Brooklyn shelter were unceremoniously shown the door due to a new eviction policy that sets time limits for migrants at city shelters — even as a storm that Gov. Kathy Hochul called “a life-threatening rainfall event” bore down on the five boroughs. A reporter for THE CITY asked Housing Preservation and Development on Friday morning if the men would be able to stay while flooding was ongoing. Late that morning, a spokesperson said the men would get a reprieve: “They are allowed to stay,” she said. But the directive did not seem to trickle down to staff at the site. More severe weather is bringing water into homes more frequently across the five boroughs. Here is THE CITY’s guide for what to do if flooding damages your place. Over the weekend, the U.S. narrowly avoided a government shutdown. Both houses of Congress kicked the can by approving a temporary stop-gap measure to continue to fund the government for another 45 days. That means disputes over domestic spending, funding Ukraine’s war effort, and more are likely to continue in the coming weeks before a more permanent solution is set. Here’s what a government shutdown could mean for New Yorkers.  On the latest episode of the FAQ NYC podcast, author Sean Howe goes deep into some of the stories in his wild new book, “Agents of Chaos: Thomas King Forçade, High Times, and the Paranoid End of the 1970s.” Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Monday's Weather Rating: 7/10. High temperatures reach the upper 70s with relatively comfortable dew points and a light breeze. The main issue will be a layer of wildfire smoke floating just a few thousand feet above our heads all day long. The vibes are... hazy. Things To Do Here’s what’s going on around the city this week. Wednesday, Oct. 4: Crafting with Lavender, a workshop to create satchels and wreaths with the soothing plant. Pelham Fritz Recreation Center in Manhattan, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free. Friday, Oct. 6: The Amazing Maize Maze, NYC’s only corn maze. Fridays through Sundays (plus Monday, Oct. 9) through Oct. 28. Queens County Farm Museum. Various hours. Tickets: free for kids 3 and under, $14 all other kids, $16 adults.  Saturday, Oct. 7: The Little Red Lighthouse Festival, a celebration of Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse with readings of an eponymous children’s book, live music, puppets, and more. Fort Washington Park, various tour times available. Free. THE KICKER: A sea lion at the Central Park Zoo rode last Friday’s floodwaters to freedom, temporarily escaping. She took a brief swim around, but soon returned to the familiarity of her enclosure.  Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Monday. Love, THE CITY P.S. Love THE CITY? Our nonprofit newsroom runs on support from readers like you. Donate here.

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