Brooklyn Flood Watch: Sewage Spills, Libraries Close, Subways Stall

BROOKLYN, NY — Brooklyn was pummeled with rain Friday, wreaking havoc across the borough flooding schools, housing developments, apartments and shutting down libraries.

Floods across Brooklyn reached over two inches in depth throughout the day, shutting entire subway lines and major thoroughfares.

And the city was expected to see up to eight inches of rain through Friday night, according to Mayor Eric Adams.

"Parts of Brooklyn have particularly born the brunt of this," said Rohit Aggarwala, Commissioner of the city's Environmental Protection department.

Pictures and videos posted to social media throughout Friday show cars nearly completely drowned in water, water bursting through subway station walls and raw sewage leaking through bathrooms.

Find Patch's coverage of the storm below:

Libraries Close Early

BROOKLYN, NY — All Brooklyn Public Library locations were set to close early Friday as the borough was overwhelmed by flooding.

Libraries were set to close at 3 p.m., according to a representative of Brooklyn Public Library.

Videos posted to social media Friday showed water gushing down the stairs at Mount Prospect Park, just outside Brooklyn Central Library.

[2:50 p.m.]

Severe Flooding In Bushwick Public Housing

A NYCHA development in Bushwick saw severe flooding Friday, according to Representative Nydia Velazquez.

At least 14 buildings in Hope Gardens had flooded by 1:45 p.m. Friday, Velazquez said in a tweet.

Her office was working with NYCHA, the development's management and the city's Environmental Protection department, she said.

P.S. 11 on Waverly Boulevard between Gates and Greene avenues was in need of emergency assistance after flooding Friday afternoon, said City Council Member Crystal Hudson.

Hudson asked locals to stop by with cleaning supplies and help clean up the floods.

"For anyone who is not dealing with their own home flooding, we need your help to dry, clean, and disinfect ground floor classrooms," she wrote in a message to constituents.

Public Schools officials said schools were preparing for dismissal, and that Public Schools Athletic League activities were cancelled.

"Our schools are preparing for safe and orderly dismissal," the department wrote in a tweet.

Some other Brooklyn institutions shut their doors Friday, including City Council Member Chi Ossé's office, Alamo Drafthouse.

[2:45 p.m.]

Sewage Leak In Williamsburg

BROOKLYN, NY — Friday's storm went from bad to worse for a Brooklyn apartment building that flooded with raw sewage, according to state Assemblymember Emily Gallagher.

Gallagher, who represents Greenpoint and part of Williamsburg, shared a video of a brown liquid flooding a bathroom in Williamsburg.

"This issue is known to the owners and management—it happened before just a few months ago," Gallagher said.

And the North Brooklyn tenants were not alone.

Borough President Antonio Reynoso said his office was aware of flooding in at least 29 spots across Brooklyn, including the Grand Army Plaza station, Prospect Park and Marcy Houses.

All the while, Reynoso levied criticism of Mayor Eric Adams' and Gov. Kathy Hochul's handling of Friday's storm.

"This morning’s events have made it glaringly apparent that New York City and State must improve their processes for communicating with New Yorkers about sudden and extreme weather before it happens," Reynoso said in a statement.

[1:40 p.m.]

Basement Rescue, Schools Evacuated

BROOKLYN, NY — Brooklynites were rescued from a Bed-Stuy basement Friday as floods overwhelmed the borough, officials announced Friday.

People were trapped in a basement on Madison Street between Thompson and Throop avenues Friday about 9:30 a.m., according to the FDNY.

They were rescued without injuries, and were not transferred to an area hospital.

"If you live in those boroughs, are in a basement apartment or a flood-prone area, please make sure you have plans and are prepared to move to higher ground," said city Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol.

Meanwhile, P.S. 312 in Bergen Beach — initially reported by authorities as P.S. 132 in Williamsburg — was evacuated for a smoking boiler, according to a representative of New York City Public Schools.

"Parts of Brooklyn have particularly born the brunt of this," said Rohit Aggarwala, Commissioner of the city's Environmental Protection department.

[12:45 p.m.]

Hundreds Without Power

BROOKLYN, NY — Hundreds of Brooklynites were without power Friday as the borough faced severe flooding, affecting hundreds of Brooklynites.

In Cobble Hill, over 200 people were left without power due to a manhole problem, according to conEdison's outage tracker.

In Greenpoint, nearly 80 people were without power when an entire building went out.

In Bed-Stuy, over 100 locals were without power in four separate outages near Bedford and Greene avenues.

Meanwhile, locals waited over 30 minutes for promised updates from Mayor Eric Adams' office on flood conditions.

[11:35 a.m.]

'My Kids' School Day, It's Over'

BROOKLYN, NY — A former Flatbush representative said his children's school had flooded just an hour into their school day, as other parents scrambled on social media for answers.

"An hour into my kids' school day, it's over," said Cory Provost, former District Leader for the 58th state Assembly district.

Parents were asked to pick up their students as soon as possible after the cafeteria and other parts of campus flooded, he said in a Tweet.

Provost did not specify what school his children attend.

Other parents reported walls collapsing and buildings flooding.

Meanwhile, Prospect Avenue reopened at Caton Avenue after shutting for floods, police said around 11 a.m.

Williamsburg and Gowanus were hit hardest by Friday's storms, with flooding reaching over two feet deep, according to a city flood tracker.

Gowanus saw over two feet of flooding near 9th Street and Smith Street Friday morning. South Williamsburg saw floods nearing two feet deep. Near Wallabout Street and Throop Street, flood depth exceeded two feet.

[11:10 a.m.]

An Entire Subway Line Stopped

BROOKLYN, NY — The G line completely stopped Friday morning due to flooding and all 2/3 service in the borough, authorities said.

Service was suspended across the entire G line in Brooklyn Friday starting before 10 a.m. and 2/3 service about 10:10 a.m., according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

"We're continuing to remove water from the tracks caused by flooding from rainfall at various stations in Brooklyn and Manhattan," the MTA said.

The suspension would continue until water could be drained.

The F line was also suspended between Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue and Second Avenue in both directions, authorities said.

D trains were suspended in both directions in Brooklyn Friday morning.

Photos posted to social media show straphangers stalled on a G train near the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station.

MTA authorities said that in the case of flooding, trains will be directed to the nearest station so riders aren't stranded.

[10:15 a.m.]

Subways Flood Across Brooklyn

BROOKLYN, NY — Brooklyn saw the heaviest impact of Friday morning's storm as subways flooded and roadways closed, Gov. Kathy Hochul warned.

The downpour caused "major disruptions" on multiple subway lines, the Belt Parkway was closed and the borough was put under a flash flood warning, officials said.

At a press conference Friday morning, MTA CEO and Chairman Janno Lieber said, "About half of the subway system is either fully suspended or partially suspended," said Janno Lieber."

This is how subways stood as of 12:55 p.m:

Read more about subway closures here.

"Brooklyn is seeing some of the heaviest impacts of this rainstorm," Hochul said in a Tweet. "All Brooklynites should be extremely careful right now."

[9:56 a.m.]

Flooding Closes Brooklyn Expressway

BROOKLYN, NY — Major flooding closed the Prospect Expressway at Caton Avenue, police said Friday morning.

Both directions were fully closed at Caton Avenue, police said.

Photos posted to social media show deep flooding trapping at least one car.

[9:50 a.m.]

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