Eastern New York was left underwater this week after back-to-back days of relentless rain broke long-standing records and turned quiet streets into rivers, forcing emergency crews into repeated water rescues.
The storm system crawled across the Northeast, first drenching New Jersey and Pennsylvania on Tuesday before stalling over New York and New England on Wednesday. In several New York counties, rainfall crossed the 7-inch mark within just two days, overwhelming drainage systems and catching residents off guard.
Multiple counties in eastern New York were forced to declare a state of emergency as floodwaters rose rapidly. State-run swiftwater rescue teams were deployed, pulling stranded residents from vehicles and homes by boat, according to state officials.
Albany International Airport recorded its heaviest two-day rainfall in recorded history, with nearly 6.7 inches falling since Tuesday. Nearby Schodack was hit even harder, receiving close to 12 inches of rain — over double what the region typically sees during the entire month of July.
The flooding didn’t stay confined to roads and homes. Air travel across the region took a major hit, with more than 200 flights canceled across New York City’s three major airports, and over 70 cancellations reported at Boston’s main airport, along with widespread delays. Train service between New York City and Albany was also suspended after tracks became blocked by high water and storm debris.
Dramatic visuals emerged from Guilderland, New York, where cars were seen stuck in waist-deep floodwater. In one widely shared clip, a man was seen carrying a child from a stranded vehicle while helping another person wade through the rising water.
In Chatham, New York, firefighters rushed to rescue a postal delivery worker after their vehicle became trapped in floodwater mid-route.
Officials in Columbia County confirmed nearly two dozen roads were shut down as fire crews worked overnight to pump water out of flooded homes, with several residents still assessing the damage as the storm slowly moves out of the region.
