🇺🇸 🌧️ Governor Hochul Declares State of Emergency as Heavy Rainfall Threat Continues into Friday

7/31/20252 min read

July 31, 2025 | New York State

Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a State of Emergency for New York City and surrounding counties, urging residents to prepare for heavy rainfall, potential flash flooding, and travel disruptions from Thursday afternoon through Friday X (formerly Twitter)+15Governor Kathy Hochul+15New York Post+15.

🚨 Coverage Area & Timing

The emergency declaration covers a wide swath of the state, including:

New York City’s five boroughs
Long Island (Nassau, Suffolk)
Hudson Valley and nearby counties: Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan, Delaware, and adjacent regions AP News CBS News

Forecasts warn of intense rainfall rates—up to 2 inches per hour, and as much as 5 inches in some areas—creating a 70% chance of localized flash flooding News 12 - Default.

🌧️ What’s Driving the Crisis

A stalled cold front rich in atmospheric moisture is triggering repeated thunderstorm cells (a phenomenon known as “training”), particularly over the I‑95 corridor. This setup has already prompted flood watches and severe thunderstorm warnings from Washington, D.C., through Philadelphia and into New York and New Jersey Reuters+2washingtonpost.com +2AP News+2.

🚦 Impact & Disruptions

Clearview Expressway in Queens was closed in both directions after flooding stranded multiple vehicles, including a tanker truck, near Northern Boulevard New York Post+6ABC7 New York+6New York Post+6.
Commuter rail services, including rail into Long Island, were suspended during evening rush, compounding delays Wikipedia+2AP News+2ABC7 New York+2.
Airports in NYC and surrounding regions reported flight cancellations and delays lasting several hours the-independent.com +2AP News+2Wikipedia+2.
Over 6,000 power outages were recorded regionwide, particularly in New Jersey as thunderstorms rolled through AP News.

📋 Official Actions & Safety Measures

State agencies have deployed flood response teams and staged water rescue units in high-risk zones, particularly in Orange and Ulster counties aa.com.tr +2spectrumlocalnews.com +2Governor Kathy Hochul+2.
Non-essential state employees in affected regions were sent home early (around 1 p.m.) to minimize commuting risks spectrumlocalnews.com +2Governor Kathy Hochul+2aa.com.tr +2.
Officials are advising residents to stay indoors, avoid travel unless absolutely necessary, and move to higher ground if living in basements or low-lying areas AP News.

💬 Key Messaging

“I am urging all New Yorkers to stay vigilant, stay informed, and use caution as we expect excessive rainfall with the potential for flash flooding. State agencies are on standby ... to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers in the path of the storm,” Governor Hochul said cbs6albany.com +8Governor Kathy Hochul+8ABC7 New York+8.

Mayor Eric Adams has also issued a localized emergency declaration for New York City, announcing early employee dismissals and activation of flood response plans The Guardian New York Post.

From downstate New York to the Hudson Valley, residents are bracing for a dangerous rain event. As flood watches remain in effect through Friday afternoon, precautions around commuting, infrastructure disruptions, and basin flooding are critically important in mitigating risks from this intense weather system.