lisaannne7968
August 8th, 2007, 12:51 PM
CBS) NEW YORK Fast-moving storms caused major flooding Wednesday morning that overwhelmed New York's subway system. There was no way to get from here to there, many commuters told CBS 2 News.
Confusion ruled the streets and the subways, as the morning ritual was shattered and New Yorkers became urban refugees. For most, it was inconvenient, but for at least one person, the storm was deadly.
At an afternoon news conference, Mayor Bloomberg confirmed that one woman was killed on Staten Island in the storm.
"A car got stuck in an underpass and another car came long and hit hers," Bloomberg said.
LIVE VIDEO: Mayor Bloomberg Talks About Storm Damage And Transit Issues
Floodwaters reached the third rail in several places along the miles of city subways, spurring a shutdown of the major subway lines that run under New York City.
Straphangers said that they were advised to find alternate means of transportation, which effectively stranded thousands on their way to work with no other option but to head home or wait out the suspensions.
Inside subway stations throughout the city, commuters were confronted with incomprehensible announcements.
Above ground, bus stops were filled with people who waited and waited, as one bus after another rolled by with signs that read: "Next Bus Please."
It was a chaotic scene that most people took in stride. But it was brutally hot, people were late for work and tempers started to rise.
"Everyone's gotta walk, and we pay so much money for the trains. It's ridiculous," one frustrated subway rider told CBS 2 News.
Every single line of the subway system has been affected by the delays, and officials tell CBS 2 News that it could still take hours for the entire system to get back to normal.
That was little consolation for those forced to sweat out delays in the wet and sticky conditions inside subway stations and on train platforms.
"Katrina's sister came through, and she was upset," one man told CBS 2 News.
Digg This Story!
Pumps were brought in to help rid the tunnels of water, and crews are still working to restore normal service -- several hours after the initial flooding took place.
The sun is now shining and the major rains have long past, but the delays remain.
City roadways were little better.
"It's a mess downtown, all south of Houston Street is a parking lot," one driver said.
See below for the entire list of line suspensions and routing.
After closing down all service through Grand Central Terminal, service was later restored on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines through the Mott Haven area.
All service is operating through the area slowly and customers will be significantly delayed coming into Grand Central Terminal.
There is limited Hudson Line service from Grand Central Terminal. There continues to be no service out of Grand Central Terminal on the Harlem or New Haven lines because of earlier flooding in the Bronx.
After earlier suspensions on the Port Washington branch, the Long Island Rail Road reports that there are only scattered 10-15 minute delays systemwide.has suspended service on the Port Washington Branch because of flooding in Bayside.
Earlier this morning, there were delays of up to 90 minutes at John F. Kennedy International Airport and about an hour at La Guardia due to the earlier storms. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey tells CBS 2 that JFK is experiencing 40 minute departure delays; LaGuardia has 30 minute departure delays and Newark Liberty has one hour departure delays. None of the airports is reporting any delays on arrivals.
In addition:
Flooding Causes Major Transit Meltdown...
Flight delays, subway soaked...
Rainstorm Cripples Gotham...
Possible Tornado in Brooklyn...
'Cab line 1000 people deep at Penn station'...
Fights Breakout at overcrowded bus stops...
Another Birth Pang~ The signs are all around us.
Come Lord Jesus.
Confusion ruled the streets and the subways, as the morning ritual was shattered and New Yorkers became urban refugees. For most, it was inconvenient, but for at least one person, the storm was deadly.
At an afternoon news conference, Mayor Bloomberg confirmed that one woman was killed on Staten Island in the storm.
"A car got stuck in an underpass and another car came long and hit hers," Bloomberg said.
LIVE VIDEO: Mayor Bloomberg Talks About Storm Damage And Transit Issues
Floodwaters reached the third rail in several places along the miles of city subways, spurring a shutdown of the major subway lines that run under New York City.
Straphangers said that they were advised to find alternate means of transportation, which effectively stranded thousands on their way to work with no other option but to head home or wait out the suspensions.
Inside subway stations throughout the city, commuters were confronted with incomprehensible announcements.
Above ground, bus stops were filled with people who waited and waited, as one bus after another rolled by with signs that read: "Next Bus Please."
It was a chaotic scene that most people took in stride. But it was brutally hot, people were late for work and tempers started to rise.
"Everyone's gotta walk, and we pay so much money for the trains. It's ridiculous," one frustrated subway rider told CBS 2 News.
Every single line of the subway system has been affected by the delays, and officials tell CBS 2 News that it could still take hours for the entire system to get back to normal.
That was little consolation for those forced to sweat out delays in the wet and sticky conditions inside subway stations and on train platforms.
"Katrina's sister came through, and she was upset," one man told CBS 2 News.
Digg This Story!
Pumps were brought in to help rid the tunnels of water, and crews are still working to restore normal service -- several hours after the initial flooding took place.
The sun is now shining and the major rains have long past, but the delays remain.
City roadways were little better.
"It's a mess downtown, all south of Houston Street is a parking lot," one driver said.
See below for the entire list of line suspensions and routing.
After closing down all service through Grand Central Terminal, service was later restored on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines through the Mott Haven area.
All service is operating through the area slowly and customers will be significantly delayed coming into Grand Central Terminal.
There is limited Hudson Line service from Grand Central Terminal. There continues to be no service out of Grand Central Terminal on the Harlem or New Haven lines because of earlier flooding in the Bronx.
After earlier suspensions on the Port Washington branch, the Long Island Rail Road reports that there are only scattered 10-15 minute delays systemwide.has suspended service on the Port Washington Branch because of flooding in Bayside.
Earlier this morning, there were delays of up to 90 minutes at John F. Kennedy International Airport and about an hour at La Guardia due to the earlier storms. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey tells CBS 2 that JFK is experiencing 40 minute departure delays; LaGuardia has 30 minute departure delays and Newark Liberty has one hour departure delays. None of the airports is reporting any delays on arrivals.
In addition:
Flooding Causes Major Transit Meltdown...
Flight delays, subway soaked...
Rainstorm Cripples Gotham...
Possible Tornado in Brooklyn...
'Cab line 1000 people deep at Penn station'...
Fights Breakout at overcrowded bus stops...
Another Birth Pang~ The signs are all around us.
Come Lord Jesus.