Thunderstorms and the chance of flash flooding move into NYC today. Heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and lightning are all possible. High winds can knock down trees and power lines and send debris flying. Heavy rain can flood streets and basement apartments fast, often with very little warning.
NYCEM activated the city's Flash Flood Emergency Plan on Thursday. We have been preparing since then and through the day, coordinating with agency partners and tracking conditions around the clock so the city is ready and New Yorkers get the word in time to act. Now we need you to do your part.
Know your risk. If you live in a basement or ground-floor apartment, a low-lying neighborhood, or an area that has flooded before, you are at higher risk. Take a few minutes now to get ready.
Before the storm:
Sign up for alerts at
nyc.gov/notifynyc or text NYC to 692-692. If you live in a basement apartment, select the basement apartment alert option so you get warnings that apply to where you live. Bring in or tie down anything that can blow away, like trash cans, lawn furniture, plant pots, and umbrellas. Clear debris from basement windows, stairwell drains, and gutters so water can flow. Make sure your basement exits are clear and easy to open. Keep a Go Bag near your door with medications, a flashlight, a phone charger, and important documents in waterproof bags.
When it hits:
If you hear thunder, head inside and move away from windows to an interior room on a lower floor. Do not touch electrical equipment or plumbing during a thunderstorm. If a Flash Flood Warning or Emergency is issued, act immediately and move to higher ground. Do not wait to see the water. Never walk or drive through floodwater. Just 6 inches can knock you off your feet, and 1 foot can sweep away a car. Once you leave a flooded area, do not go back until officials confirm it is clear. Flooding can develop overnight, so keep your phone nearby with alerts on and the volume up.
Sign up at
nyc.gov/notifynyc and get more storm and flooding tips at
nyc.gov/beready.