At least 40 killed as Hurricane Ida remnants travel up East Coast

At least 40 people have died from Maryland to New York after the remnants of Hurricane Ida barreled up the Atlantic Coast overnight, prompting governors to issue states of emergency, The Associated Press reported Thursday.

Eight people were killed in New York City amid the storm: four women, three men and a 2-year-old boy, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD). The oldest victim was 86.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) confirmed a ninth New York City death during a press conference on Thursday.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced on Thursday that 23 individuals are reported dead in the state following the storm. He said a majority of the fatalities were people who were caught in their vehicles by flooding and overtaken by water.

I am saddened to report that, as of right now, at least 23 New Jerseyans have lost their life to this storm.

The majority of these deaths were individuals who got caught in their vehicles by flooding and were overtaken by the water.

Our prayers are with their family members.

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) September 2, 2021

Four more fatalities were reported at the Oakwood Plaza Apartments in Elizabeth, N.J., according to public information officer Kelly Martins, updating a previous report that said there were five deaths in the city.

The Elizabeth victims ranged in age from 33 to 72. Three of them were from the same family: a mother, father and their son.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health told The Hill that the state thus far has one reported storm-related death in Chester County. The department noted, however, that the situation is “evolving” and that the death count will “continue to update.”

Another person was pulled by firefighters from a submerged vehicle that got caught in floodwaters near the Passaic River in New Jersey, NBC News reported, citing the town’s mayor. 

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) both issued states of emergency due to the heavy rain. 

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) also issued a state of emergency order on Wednesday night as torrential rain caused serious flooding, leading the subway system to stop transit.

The National Weather Service’s New York office also issued a flash flood emergency for the area, stretching from Brooklyn and Queens up through Yonkers and White Plains, N.Y.

The agency said it was the first time a Flash Flood Emergency was issued in New York City.

To be clear… this particular warning for NYC is the second time we’ve ever issued a Flash Flood Emergency (It’s the first one for NYC). The first time we’ve issued a Flash Flood Emergency was for Northeast New Jersey a an hour ago. https://t.co/7k55jeXbpb

— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) September 1, 2021

The NYPD said that seven of the people who died in New York were from Queens, while one was from Brooklyn. 

—Updated at 5:45 p.m.