US: Recovery efforts ongoing throughout the Northeast Sept. 3 following the passage of Ida /update 1

Event

Recovery efforts are ongoing in multiple states in the Northeastern US as of early Sept. 3, especially in the states of New York and New Jersey, following the passage of Post-Tropical Cyclone Ida Sept. 1-2. The storm has caused at least 46 deaths, including 16 in New York State, 23 in New Jersey, five in Pennsylvania, one in Maryland, and one in Connecticut. The number of fatalities is likely to increase as recovery efforts continue. Authorities declared a state of emergency for New Jersey and New York State as well as New York City.

More than 45,000 people were without electricity, late Sept. 2 in the region, especially in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, authorities closed the Vine Street Expressway and parts of the Schuylkill Expressway due to major flooding. In New York City, authorities are asking residents to avoid non-emergency travel within the city, and service in the subway system remained limited Sept. 2 due to flooding in multiple stations late Sept. 1. Restoration efforts are ongoing, with the tracks in Queens the worst damaged. In New Jersey, Metro-North is scheduled to resume service on the Harlem and New Haven lines Sept. 3. NJ Transit plans to resume services Sept. 3 on all rail lines except Montclair-Boonton, Gladstone, Pascack Valley, and Raritan Valley lines. Full service on the Long Island Rail Road is expected by early Sept. 3. Amtrak, the national passenger railroad service, canceled all services between Washington, DC, and Boston, Massachusetts, Sept. 2. Services along the northeast corridor are scheduled to resume Sept. 3, including Acela, Northeast Regional, Keystone Service, Springfield Service, and Vermonter trains. The Empire Service and Ethan Allen Express trains between Albany and New York City remain canceled through at least Sept. 3.

The storm has also impacted air travel. While operations have mostly resumed at John F. Kennedy (JFK) and LaGuardia (LGA) airports, hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Sept. 2, and disruptions are likely to continue through at least Sept. 3.

The storm's passage also resulted in multiple flooded roads, damaged buildings, and downed trees in major cities, including New York City and Philadelphia. At least 10 tornadoes were reported from Maryland to Massachusetts, with four in Maryland - including one that tracked through the state capital, Annapolis - as well as one in Mullica Hill, Gloucester County, N.J., located south of Philadelphia, Sept. 1 that severely damaged 25 homes. High water levels along the Schuylkill River and Perkiomen Creek in Philadelphia, as well as the Passaic River in New Jersey, resulted in significant flooding, prompting authorities to rescue individuals in affected areas. Authorities ordered thousands of residents to evacuate due to high water levels at the Wilmore Dam in central Pennsylvania; the residents were allowed to return to their homes late Sept. 1.

Lingering transport and utility disruptions, limited services, and shortages of certain basic goods are possible over the coming days in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, especially in affected parts of Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.

Advice

Monitor local media for updates and advisories on weather conditions. Make allowances for possible supply chain disruptions in affected areas. Do not drive on flooded roads and avoid all nonemergency travel. Charge battery-powered devices in case prolonged electricity outages occur.

Use extreme caution in low-lying areas and near streams, creeks, and other waterways due to the potential for flooding. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving or routing shipments through areas where flooding has occurred. Confirm flights before checking out of hotels or driving to the airport; clearing passenger backlogs may take several days in some locations.