Sep 3, 2021 - Energy & Environment

Northeast continues recovery after Hurricane Ida's remnants killed at least 48

New York City Parks Security Service officers on horseback explore the Greyshot Arch

New York City Parks Security Service officers explore the Greyshot Arch in Central Park on September 2, 2021. Photo: Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images

The Northeast continued its recovery Friday after at least 48 people in five states died from extreme flooding caused by the remains of Hurricane Ida, AP reports.

Driving the news: In New Jersey, where the death toll was highest, at least 25 people died from torrential rainfall, including many who drowned after their vehicles were caught in flash floods, per AP.

  • Record-breaking rainfall, causing flooding and falling debris, also killed people in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New York.
  • At least 11 people died in New York City after being trapped in basement apartments as floodwater rose.
  • Authorities are still searching for possible victims from the storm, per AP.

The big picture: The rainfall that swept through the region this week was likely to qualify as a one in 100- to 500-year event, per National Weather Service discussions and meteorologists.

  • According to insurance broker Aon, flood-related damage in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast is expected to result in a "double-digit billion economic damage toll," Axios' Julia Sclafani and Rebecca Falconer report.
  • Parts of New York City's subway system were still offline Thursday night as workers sought to repair flood damage, per AP.
  • On Friday, crews continued to pump water out of the flooded Vine Street Expressway, a major artery that runs through Philadelphia.

The storm also triggered multiple tornadoes in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

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