Posted on Sep 3, 2021
11 of the 12 victims of flash flooding in NYC lived in basement apartments
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In Woodside, Queens, one neighbour heard a family calling out for help from their basement apartment as a deluge of water flooded the building. No one could reach them through the torrent. All three of them died, including a toddler. It was a similar story in Cypress Hill, Brooklyn. Sixty-six-year-old Roberto Bravo tried desperately to escape as the water poured through the windows, but no one could reach him in time.
The remnants of Hurricane Ida brought devastation to New York City on Wednesday evening, causing flash floods that closed subways, left people stranded in their cars and destroyed homes. But there was one group overrepresented among the victims: of the 12 city residents who lost their lives in the storm, 11 died in basement apartments.
Basement or “garden” apartments — living spaces below ground level — are often a more affordable option in a city where housing for lower-income communities is hard to come by. They can be found in affluent areas in the cellars of grand brownstones, but in some working-class neighbourhoods they are often cramped spaces, sometimes rented illegally by landlords hoping to maximise profits from their building.
The remnants of Hurricane Ida brought devastation to New York City on Wednesday evening, causing flash floods that closed subways, left people stranded in their cars and destroyed homes. But there was one group overrepresented among the victims: of the 12 city residents who lost their lives in the storm, 11 died in basement apartments.
Basement or “garden” apartments — living spaces below ground level — are often a more affordable option in a city where housing for lower-income communities is hard to come by. They can be found in affluent areas in the cellars of grand brownstones, but in some working-class neighbourhoods they are often cramped spaces, sometimes rented illegally by landlords hoping to maximise profits from their building.
11 of the 12 victims of flash flooding in NYC lived in basement apartments
Posted from independent.co.uk
Climate Change
Flood
New York City
Posted >1 y ago
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"“She said, ‘The water is coming in right now,’ and I say, ‘Get out!’ Get to the third floor!” Mrs Sledge told the newspaper. “The last thing I hear from them is, ‘The water coming in from the window.’ And that was it.”"
Sad that the woman chose to make a phone call rather than get her family out of a dangerous situation. The article says it flooded their building in a split second. No, they had time. They just didn't use it due to ignorance or freezing up. I'm sure some lawyer will sue the landlord for millions but this is like sitting in your apartment while it burns rather than running.
Sad that the woman chose to make a phone call rather than get her family out of a dangerous situation. The article says it flooded their building in a split second. No, they had time. They just didn't use it due to ignorance or freezing up. I'm sure some lawyer will sue the landlord for millions but this is like sitting in your apartment while it burns rather than running.
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