<h5>What are flash floods?</h5><p>Flooding that occurs within 6 hours, and frequently within 3 hours, of heavy rain or thunderstorms is called a flash flood. They can sometimes occur in the absence of rain due to reasons like dam failure. These floods happen so fast that individuals are caught off guard.</p><p>Rainfall over an urban area can cause more extreme flooding than in the suburbs. In cities, hard surfaces, such as pavements, prevent water from soaking into the ground, forcing the water to flow towards low-lying areas.</p><p>Recently, New York City in the USA experienced severe flash flooding.</p><h5>What was the reason behind the flash flooding in New York City?</h5><div class="raw-html-embed"><figure> <video width="100%" controls=""> <source src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/flash-floods-drown-new-york-city%2FNew%20York%202.mp4?alt=media&amp;token=c6ce0181-2c2d-4d69-847e-cc2c5af05500&amp;_gl=1*1a4ykf*_ga*MTIzNjQ0ODg2NS4xNjgzNzk5MjMy*_ga_CW55HF8NVT*MTY5NjQxMDkxMy4yMjIuMS4xNjk2NDExODkxLjQzLjAuMA.." type="video/mp4"> </video> <figcaption>Situation in New York during the flash flood. Video by CNA.</figcaption> </figure></div><p>Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in New York City on 29th September 2023. The floods stopped subway service, drowned some ground-level apartments, and submerged some city streets. Some bus routes came to a halt, stranding passengers for hours.</p><p>People had to walk through knee-deep waters, and many cars were abandoned on highways. A state of emergency was declared as flash floods brought the city to a standstill. Rescue teams helped people across the city. Currently, things are slowly returning to normal.</p><p>New York’s governor, Kathy Hochul, said climate change is the reason behind frequent storms that cause heavy rainfall and floods. The National Weather Service said this was the wettest September for New York City since 1882.</p><h5>What to do if there is a flash flood warning?</h5><figure class="image"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/flash-floods-drown-new-york-city%2FNew%20York%203.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=b0fc313c-1a07-4b4d-ba5d-6ff6e967f5a4&amp;_gl=1*2cwh90*_ga*MTIzNjQ0ODg2NS4xNjgzNzk5MjMy*_ga_CW55HF8NVT*MTY5NjQxMDkxMy4yMjIuMS4xNjk2NDEyMDE4LjUwLjAuMA.."><figcaption>Rescue teams helping people. Photo by CGTN.</figcaption></figure><p>An emergency kit packed with essential supplies must be kept ready. It can be taken along during emergency evacuations. If a storm is approaching, one must keep checking weather alerts. This can help one understand how the situation develops, and preventive measures can be taken accordingly.</p><p>During flash floods, if water is rushing into one’s apartment, one must immediately evacuate without wasting time. If the authorities advise people to evacuate from an area, they must do so. If flash floods happen while a person is in a car, they must get on the roof of the car so that rescue teams can see and rescue them.</p><p>If someone gets trapped in a flash flood while on foot, they must run and reach the highest point possible. If someone is in a subway during a flash flood, they must quickly exit the subway station. If a person is on a train, they must follow the authorities' instructions. These are some things that must be done during flash floods.</p>

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