Storm Ida: New York Declares State Of Emergency, Mayor Urges Citizens To Stay Indoors Amid 'Dangerous Conditions'

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday morning declared state of emergency  in view of worsening weather conditions and heavy rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

Storm Ida in regions of New York (Photo by Getty Images)

New Delhi: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday morning declared a state of emergency in view of worsening weather conditions and heavy rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ida that lashed the region late Wednesday, spawning at least one tornado and causing severe floods. 

The New York City Mayor took to Twitter and wrote: "I’m declaring a state of emergency in New York City tonight. We’re enduring a historic weather event tonight with record-breaking rain across the city, brutal flooding and dangerous conditions on our roads".

The Mayor requested citizens to stay off the streets so that the first responders and emergency services are able to do their work properly.

"If you’re thinking of going outside, don’t. Stay off the subways. Stay off the roads. Don’t drive into these heavy waters. Stay inside," he cautioned.

Hurricane Ida struck Louisiana in the US from the Gulf of Mexico on August 29, resulting in the failure of all eight transmission lines that deliver electricity to New Orleans, Louisiana's largest city, local media reported. 

A 60-year-old man, who died after a tree fell on him because of the storm, was the first person reported to be killed in the hurricane. Ida made landfall exactly 16 years after the day Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana.

It is said to be the strongest test yet for the systems put in place since the devastating Katrina hit the US, a CNN report said, quoting experts.

Just a week earlier, on August 22, Hurricane Henri had struck the US coast of Rhode Island, near Westerly. Since the storm was downgraded, it couldn’t result in excessive damage.