2 men die in flooded basements during storm in New York City, police say
By WABC Staff
Click here for updates on this story
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — Two people were found dead in flooded basements in New York City on Thursday after heavy storms moved through the area, according to police.
A 39-year-old man was found unconscious and unresponsive in a flooded basement in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, police said.
The FDNY Scuba Team went into the flooded basement around 4:25 p.m. and removed him. He was taken to Kings County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“I was here when they dragged his body out of the water,” said Akiva, the victim’s friend.
Neighbors told Eyewitness News that the man lived in the basement and went back in to save one of his two dogs and was unable to get out.
“He was just very pure, simple person,” Akiva said. “Didn’t really need much at all. He was a giver, he wasn’t a taker.”
Crews pumped the water out of homes in the area, owned by people drowning in worry with every rain drop.
“Every single time it rains, my heart and pressure goes up because I know what to expect,” said landlord Renee Phillips.
In a separate incident in Washington Heights, a 43-year-old man was found unconscious and unresponsive in a flooded boiler room, according to police.
NYPD ESU removed the man from the boiler room and EMS pronounced him dead on the scene.
The effects of rainstorms have become progressively catastrophic for New York City residents, who feel like they are being flooded out of the city, and now are losing their neighbors.
“Why are the roads paved so unevenly that all the water becomes like Noah’s arc here? Because people don’t think – maybe we should make things level,” Akiva said.
“If I work every day, you know, and I pay my taxes and I’m crying out for help – somebody come out and help with the situation. I’m tired of crying out and nobody’s hearing me. But somebody’s hearing something today,” Phillips said.
Police are investigating both incidents.
This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.