New York City officials opened 51 emergency safe locations at public schools Tuesday night, July 28, 2026, as saturated ground and heavy rainstorms continue to threaten low-lying neighborhoods with dangerous flash flooding.
City municipal crews focused efforts on clearing catch basins and checking vulnerable streets following severe weather Tuesday night.
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Municipal officials warned that brief, intense downpours can rapidly send water into ground-floor residences, basements, and roadways.
The city activated its flash flood emergency plan, unifying emergency management, public utility providers, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority onto a single continuous response line to coordinate operations.
Officials Warn of Falling Trees and Flooded Roads
New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell noted that soil saturation significantly elevates the risk of falling trees across the city.
"We do have the Down Tree Task Force on alert. It's been on alert a lot over the last several weeks," Farrell said.
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City agencies urged motorists to exercise caution and pull over safely if rainfall becomes too intense for travel.
"It really isn't worth it to drive into water for yourself, for your vehicle; we like to say here, 'Turn around, don't drown,'" Farrell said.
Emergency management guidance advises residents in basement apartments to move to higher ground before floodwaters enter.
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Authorities also urged the public never to walk or drive through floodwaters, stay clear of downed power lines, and report clogged drainage basins or fallen trees to 311.
