Submerged subways, flooded flight terminals, and escaped sea lions: New York has become Waterworld

Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency Friday after record-breaking rainfall — remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia — resulted in sewage-filled floodwater filling the streets of New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley.

New York City also experienced flash flood warnings, and officials urged that people not travel through the storm. The flooding was the worst the city had seen since Hurricane Ida, per the Washington Post.

In July, the state experienced similar flooding after unusually high rainfall, which affected places like West Point Military Academy. In 2021, Hurricane Ida led to the deaths of 40 people in New York State, many of whom had been trapped in basement apartments.

"Overall, as we know, this changing weather pattern is the result of climate change," Rohit Aggarwala, New York City's Chief Climate Officer said in a Friday morning news conference, per ABC News. "And the sad reality is our climate is changing faster than our infrastructure can respond."

Subway lines shut down, and water literally burst through the walls of the underground system. A terminal at LaGuardia International Airport had to temporarily close after being filled with water that reached travelers' ankles. And dozens of people on the streets and in basements required rescues, per ABC News.

However, residents are still upset about the damage to property, homes, restaurants, cars and more, CBS News reported. Officials called the flooding the worst in

Experts say that the city will have to improve its infrastructure and flood planning to prevent future floods like this, the Verge reported.

For example, at the Central Park Zoo, a sea lion used the rain waters to conduct a short-lived escape. And a TikTok influencer used their platform to dress up as a banana and dance in the rain.