Storm Ida: 7 dead and State of Emergency declared in New York and New Jersey

Storm Ida knocked the US states of New York and New Jersey on Wednesday. The storm is now moving northeast, causing heavy rains and warnings of rubble injuries as authorities closed airports and declared a state of emergency.

On Sunday, the storm struck the southern state of Louisiana, bringing severe flooding and tornadoes as it flew a trail of destruction north and east.

[caption id="attachment_37289" align="aligncenter" width="603"] Spectators walk through flooded paths near Louis Armstrong Stadium on day three of the 2021 US Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center[/caption] New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced a state of emergency as the storm caused massive flooding in New York City, the economic and business capital of the United States. The storm also flooded the areas of Brooklyn and Queens.

"Take Shelter immediately. Flying debris and rubble will be dangerous for those caught without shelter. Move to a lower floor and stay a

[caption id="attachment_37288" align="aligncenter" width="677"] A house is seen surrounded by floodwaters as heavy rains from Storm Ida cause flooding in Glenshaw, Pennsylvania.[/caption]

way from the glasses and windows," tweeted New York City's emergency notification body.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled at nearby Newark, LaGuardia and JFK airports, and floods closed major roads across areas of the metropolis, including Manhattan, The Bronx and Queens.

The city has previously issued a rare flash flood warning, urging residents to move to higher ground.

"Significant and life-threatening lightning and floods are likely from the mid-Atlantic and southern New England," the National Weather Service said in a bulletin, stating three to eight inches of rain could trouble the region through Thursday.

[caption id="attachment_37287" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A plane sits on the tarmac during heavy rain at Newark Airport, New Jersey,[/caption]

In Annapolis, 50 km (30 miles) from the US capital, a tornado uprooted trees and damaged power poles.

Flood in Maryland killed a 19-year-old man and left another person missing after a building was flooded on Wednesday, bringing Ida's death toll to seven.