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Wild videos show flooded LaGuardia Airport terminal, travelers attempting to flee ankle-deep waters

By
Social Links for Melissa Koenig
Published Sep. 29, 2023, 1:38 p.m. ET

Travelers trying to flee New York on budget airlines out of LaGuardia Airport were faced with ankle-deep water Friday morning amid widespread flooding.

The airport was forced to close its Terminal A — from where flights on Spirit and Frontier airlines depart — as the floodwaters barreled through the building.

Photos and videos posted online showed the terminal covered in water as frantic passengers tried to flee.

One woman even shared footage from inside one of the terminals, showing her TikTok followers the water creeping up over her boots and seeping through the building’s revolving doors.

“NEVER FLYING FROM LAGUARDIA AGAIN.” she wrote on the clip.

“Yes it was a ‘flash’ flood- but theres [sic] no reason the airport floodin’ like this.”

@taiilormade

thank God I wore boots. #lga #laguardia #nyc #flood

♬ original sound – Taylor 🌴

Another video posted to TikTok by influencer Batsheva Haart showed a car struggling to drive through the water that piled up on the surrounding roads.

She called the footage a “PSA anyone coming into or leaving LGA.”

Amid the flooding, LaGuardia Airport officials announced that they were temporarily shuttering operations at Terminal A, and passengers would be transported to Terminal C.

All of the Spirit Airlines flights, which depart from the terminal, were canceled until 3 p.m., while Frontier Airlines said it would operate its two remaining flights from Terminal C.

The airport also warned passengers on X they “should confirm their flight status prior to traveling to the airport.”

@batshevahaart

#floodwarning #lga #nycflood

♬ original sound – BATSHEVA

As of 1 p.m., LaGuardia was reporting 44 delays and 50 flight cancellations, according to Flight Aware, a website that monitors airport traffic. 

Nearby John F. Kennedy Airport was also reporting 42 delayed flights and nine cancellations.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says airport staff are monitoring runways, roadways and terminals and will redirect traffic if necessary. 

The airport was forced to close its Terminal A — from where flights on Spirit and Frontier airlines depart — as the floodwaters barreled through the building.
The airport was forced to close its Terminal A — from where flights on Spirit and Frontier airlines depart — as the floodwaters barreled through the building. @Bogs4NY
Within minutes the Prospect Park Expressway in Brooklyn was completely shut down with up to 3-4 ft of water by Hamilton avenue overpass.
Within minutes the Prospect Park Expressway in Brooklyn was completely shut down with up to 3-4 ft of water by Hamilton Avenue overpass. Paul Martinka
Police officers assisted motorists stuck on the FDR Drive in Manhattan near the Williamsburg Bridge.
Police officers assisted motorists stuck on the FDR Drive in Manhattan near the Williamsburg Bridge. REUTERS
The rainfall has led to a massive mess of the morning commute, and continuing through the afternoon and into the evening hours as people head home from work and school.
The rainfall has led to a massive mess of the morning commute, and continuing through the afternoon and into the evening hours as people head home from work and school. Paul Martinka
A motorist drives through a flooded FDR Drive in Manhattan near the Williamsburg Bridge.
A motorist drives through a flooded FDR Drive in Manhattan near the Williamsburg Bridge. REUTERS

The agency will activate water pumps to alleviate flooding if needed.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for New York City, the Hudson Valley and Long Island in response to the flooding.

Follow along with The Post’s live blog for the latest on the torrential rain flooding NYC

“This is a dangerous, life-threatening storm,” Hochul said in an interview with TV station NY1.

“Count on this for the next 20 hours.”

Residents walk through floodwaters during a heavy rain storm in the New York City suburb of Mamaroneck in Westchester County, New York.
Residents walk through floodwaters during a heavy rain storm in the New York City suburb of Mamaroneck in Westchester County, New York. REUTERS
In this photo taken from video, traffic makes its way through flood waters along the Brooklyn Queens Expressway.
In this photo taken from video, traffic makes its way through flood waters along the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. AP
Several cars sit stuck in the flooded streets in the Red Hook neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York.
Several cars sit stuck in the flooded streets in the Red Hook neighborhood in Brooklyn. Getty Images
Multiple people on the highway became trapped inside their vehicles with the water up to the vehicles windows.
Multiple people on the highway became trapped inside their vehicles with the water up to the vehicles windows. Paul Martinka
Special Operations Unit rescue personnel with the Westchester County Emergency Services paddle in rafts as they check buildings for victims trapped in heavy flooding in the New York City suburb of Mamaroneck, New York.
Special Operations Unit rescue personnel with the Westchester County Emergency Services paddle in rafts as they check buildings for victims trapped in heavy flooding in the New York City suburb of Mamaroneck, New York. REUTERS

Separately, Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency for the five boroughs and urged New Yorkers to stay home, or shelter in place at work or in school.

“This is a dangerous condition and it’s not over,” he said. 

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning, citing a “dangerous and life-threatening situation” caused by the storm, which is expected to bring up to 10 inches of rain in some parts of the region.

“Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order,” an emergency alert sent out late Friday morning warned.

A man carries his belongings as he abandons his vehicle which stalled in floodwaters during a heavy rain storm in the New York City suburb of Mamaroneck in Westchester County, New York.
A man carries his belongings as he abandons his vehicle which stalled in floodwaters during a heavy rain storm in the New York City suburb of Mamaroneck in Westchester County, New York. REUTERS
South Street at the intersection of Market Street where the road was closed due to flooding.
South Street at the intersection of Market Street where the road was closed due to flooding. William Farrington
A car is pushed through flooded streets in the Red Hook neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York.
A car is pushed through flooded streets in the Red Hook neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Getty Images

Parts of New York City have already seen 6 inches of rain by 1:30 p.m., when the National Weather Service recorded that LaGuardia Airport was reporting 3.65 inches while JFK International Airport was reporting 6.12 inches.

A flood watch remains in effect through 6 a.m. Saturday for the entire tri-state, with rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour expected at times.