On July 14, heavy rainstorms brought flash flooding to New Jersey, New York City, and the wider tri-state area. Dangerous driving conditions and blockages led to road closures throughout the area.
In New York City, multiple subway lines experienced severe flooding leading to major disruptions or suspensions.
People just trying to get home from work were forced into dangerous situations. In Plainfield, New Jersey, two people died after their car was swept up in flash flooding.
The flash flooding also caused hundreds of flight cancellations across LaGuardia, Newark International, and JFK airports, leaving thousands stranded. The lack of response and meaningful action from government figures is criminal and outrageous. Nearly 13 years later, the people of New York City and New Jersey are still dealing with the loss and destruction from Hurricane Sandy, another crisis exacerbated by capitalist greed and neglect.
Climate crisis means more frequent, severe rainstorms across the East Coast. Year after year, we anticipate more flash floods, and we need centralized planning and updated infrastructure that responds to this reality.
No one should be left to deal with storms alone.
We need more than last-minute text alerts and empty words from politicians when disaster hits. We need a system that guarantees concrete and comprehensive plans to address climate catastrophes and allocates necessary resources towards updating our infrastructure to withstand severe weather and flooding. We need rapid deployment of emergency relief to affected communities and long-term aid for clean-up and rebuilding efforts. Thousands of people could be employed to implement these solutions.
While flash floods hit the East Coast and hurricanes ravage the South, the Trump administration has cut funding to the National Weather Service, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, FEMA and the federal agencies responsible for disaster preparation, mitigation, and response.
Reinstate climate and disaster response funds now!
We need a new system that puts people first. If we end the rule of the billionaires and the U.S. war machine, we can get to the root of the climate crisis. We can invest in and prepare the infrastructure necessary to respond to our changing climate, and mobilize thousands of workers to make it a reality.
Feature image: Severe flooding in Somerset County, New Jersey. Credit: Forbes Breaking News Youtube screenshot
