Pictures show devastation left by Storm Ida in the US as death toll rises

2 September 2021, 16:37 | Updated: 3 September 2021, 19:04

Aftermath of Storm Ida

By Nick Hardinges

@NHardinges

Pictures have shown the destruction left by Storm Ida in the US, which has killed at least 64 people.

Photos show entire fronts ripped off houses, or in some cases entire properties destroyed.

Debris litters the landscape, marred with fallen trees and damaged homes.

In some parts of the cities, the floodwaters have not yet receded.

At least 64 people have died in the "devastating" flash floods after Storm Ida sparked record-breaking rainfall.

New Jersey has been hit the hardest in terms of fatalities, with 25 deaths reported, according to NBC.

NBC is also reporting that 17 people died in New York, 11 in Louisiana, five in Pennsylvania, two each in Mississippi and Alabama, and one each in Connecticut and Maryland.

A two-year-old boy also died in the flooding, police confirmed.

LBC Correspondent William Denselow reports from New York after the 'devastating' flash floods

Governor of New York, Kathy Huchal, described the storm as "devastating" and said the loss of life is "heartbreaking".

She said the flash floods had "shocked the people of the city" and said they are still uncovering the true depth of the loss.

The flooding comes after "record-breaking" rainfall in New York, the governor said.

Aftermath of Storm Ida

"We need to see these events in advance and be prepared.

"We haven't experienced this before, but we should expect it the next time. We need to continue investments in infrastructure.

"Trains were shut down, people were stranded, the fear that they must have experienced when this occurred I cannot imagine."

Heavy flooding as Hurricane Ida hits New York

Meanwhile, millions of Big Apple residents have been warned to stay in their homes, not to venture on to the subway and to stay off the roads as emergency services battle the deluge.

A travel ban is in place in the city with all non-emergency vehicles ordered off the roads.

Read more: Hurricane Ida hits Louisiana as people brace for 150mph winds

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Flooding as Hurricane Ida hit New York

Joe Biden said the last few days of Hurricane Ida, fires in the west and the "unprecedented" flash floods in New York and New Jersery, are yet another reminder "the climate crisis is here".

The National Weather Service wrote on Twitter: "This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!"

Uber driver successfully gets passenger home through Storm Ida Floods

NYC's Mayor Bill de Blasio said "brutal flooding" and "dangerous conditions" on the roads had left him with no choice but to put this city into a state of emergency.

"We’re enduring an historic weather event tonight with record breaking rain across the city, brutal flooding and dangerous conditions on our roads," he wrote on Twitter.

Read more: Alligator tears off man's arm amid Louisiana flooding

Read more: Louisianans swelter in aftermath of Hurricane Ida

Shocking moment deadly tornado forms over New Jersey, USA

Mr de Blasio told residents to stay off the streets to allow the emergency services to carry out their vital work and said: "If you’re thinking of going outside, don’t.

"Stay off the subways. Stay off the roads. Don’t drive into these heavy waters.

"Stay inside."

Deadly tornado caught forming over New Jersey, USA

The mayor also confirmed that around 5,300 customers on the power grid had been left without electricity.

He added: "We expect the rain to stop in the next few hours. But until then, again, if you’re not inside, get inside."

Remnants of Hurricane Ida have been blowing through the Mid-Atlantic states, damaging buildings in New Jersey - which has also declared a state of emergency - and grounding flights from Newark.

Passengers panic as car briefly stalls in floodwater from Storm Ida

Footage shared on social media has shown floodwaters engulfing subway stations, people's homes and roads across New York City.

NYC suffered its wettest hour on record, with the National Weather Service saying it had recorded 80mm (3.15 inches) of rain in the city's Central Park in just 60 minutes - smashing the previous record of 49mm (1.9 inches) that was set after Tropical Storm Henri last month.

Most of the subway has closed, while train services and flights out of New York and New Jersey have also been suspended.

Newark Liberty Airport's Twitter account said: "We're experiencing severe flooding due to tonight's storm.

"All flight activity is currently suspended and travellers are strongly advised to contact their airline for the latest flight and service resumption information.

"Passengers are being diverted from ground-level flooded areas."

Meanwhile, there were bizarre scenes at the US Open when a night match was suspended due to torrential rain - despite it being played under a roof.

Play between Kevin Anderson and Diego Schwartzman inside New York's Louis Armstrong Stadium was halted after the downpour began blowing horizontally through openings under the roof.

The city was placed on tornado watch on Wednesday night after one destroyed at least nine homes in Mullica Hill, New Jersey.

Freak conditions forced the players off the soaking wet court while spectators had to shelter under umbrellas.

The match was initially interrupted for 35 minutes while the surface was dried but after a brief restart - during which 11th seed Schwartzman won the first set on a tie-break - the match was once again suspended.

It resumed at 11:45pm local time on Arthur Ashe and Argentinian Schwartzman won 7-6 (4) 6-3 6-4, while Angelique Kerber's clash with Anhelina Kalinina, due on afterwards, had to be pushed back until Thursday.

The remnants of Hurricane Ida are also passing through the north-east state of Connecticut.

Hundreds of thousands of residents in Louisiana have been left without power after the storm first made landfall earlier in the week.

The city of New Orleans is currently under a night-time curfew due to the aftermath.