Biden Set To Tour NY Flooding Devastation On Tuesday

NEW YORK — President Joe Biden is scheduled to tour flood damage from Tropical Storm Ida in New York and in New Jersey on Tuesday, as the cleanup from the devastating storm continues.

The New York death toll from the flooding caused by the deluge of rainfall stands at 13, the majority of whom died when they were trapped by flooding in basement apartments.

Biden granted a major disaster declaration in New York on Thursday as the devastation quickly became apparent. New York City subways were flooded and trains shut down as Ida dropped as much as 10 inches of rain in some parts of the New York metro area.

Biden is scheduled to be touring in Queens, where the devastation was the worst and has provoked debate over the basement apartments, an ongoing fight in the city.

New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio said the city will more aggressively try to warn those living in basement apartments of the need to evacuate, and also will aggressively enforce travel bans that arise in bad weather. Read more: Mayor Vows More Travel Bans, Warnings In Future NYC Storms

Gov. Kathy Hochul said she expects clean-up costs caused by the storm in New York City, the Hudson Valley and Long Island will almost certainly exceed $30 million, which will make the state eligible for more financial aid from Washington.

Hochul, who was in East Elmhurst on Saturday, urged residents needing assistance to call the state's disaster hotline at 800-339-1759.

Today I returned to East Elmhurst with @jessicaramos, @tiffany_caban & Assemblyman Aubry.@NYDFS has set up Mobile Command Centers here and in other impacted areas to provide insurance help.

You can also call our Disaster Hotline at 800-339-1759. pic.twitter.com/xe07Qxyehp
— Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) September 4, 2021

More coverage of Hurricane Ida in New York City:

• 'Expect The Very, Very Worst': NYC Faces Future Ida-Scale Threats
• At Least 9 Dead After Hurricane Ida Remnants Flood NYC
• Central Park Again Records Wettest Hour In NYC History
• Woodside Toddler Among At Least 9 Dead After Historic Flooding
• 'We Need It Today:' Queens Leaders Demand Help After Major Storm
• Ida Brings 'Unbelievable' Flooding To Central Brooklyn, BP Says
• FDR Drive Flooding Tops Upper East Side's Rainstorm Woes
• Retaining Wall Collapses In Inwood: Upper Manhattan Storm Recap
• Forest Hills Woman Among At Least 9 Dead After Historic Flooding