As Queens residents faced the grim aftermath of Hurricane Ida, elected officials visited constituents’ homes to survey the destruction and offer assistance.
Reports told of flooding that claimed the lives of innocent victims in Woodside, Hollis Hills and Flushing, while others experienced damage to their personal belongings.
In a building on Grand Central Parkway near Meadow Lake, Congresswoman Grace Meng showed the flooding in the residential garage, where one person lost their life and over 200 cars were damaged.
I am at 6210 Grand Central Pkwy and they need help. This is the flooded entrance to garage. Residents were helping each other rescue neighbors but 1 life was unfortunately lost. Over 200 cars damaged. Families and pets displaced. @NYCMayorsOffice @GovKathyHochul pic.twitter.com/raA6VUFExY
— Grace Meng (@Grace4NY) September 2, 2021
In a statement, Meng said that Hurricane Ida showed the need to invest in “real climate solutions.”
“Last night, New Yorkers experienced the devastating toll of climate change. On behalf of those we lost and all the families whose safety, homes and communities were threatened by this storm, we need to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure and real climate solutions now,” Meng said.
While spending the day surveying damage in Fresh Meadows, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic showed video footage of a local whose possessions and furniture were submerged in several feet of water.
“Everything is gone,” was the resident’s heartbreaking commentary in the video.
“Everything is gone” for many neighbors who live in #FreshMeadows and can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to flooding issues.
Please reach out if you or someone you know needs assistance. pic.twitter.com/I1PPFI8VCP
— Nily Rozic 李羅莎 (@nily) September 2, 2021
Later, Meng and Rozic teamed up to show piles of belongings on the sidewalks of Fresh Meadows, which consisted of damaged clothes, washing machines and other household items.
2/2 pic.twitter.com/OR967kpguV
— Grace Meng (@RepGraceMeng) September 2, 2021
Meanwhile on 183rd Street in Hollis Hills, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards joined Mayor Bill de Blasio, Governor Kathy Hochul and other officials at the site where a mother and son lost their lives.
Richards also took to social media and said that “significant infrastructure changes” were necessary to protect Queens residents.
We’re on the same page: we need to make significant infrastructure investments that will protect Queens neighborhoods against flooding during future severe storms. With global warming now a fact a life, it is imperative that this work be done now.
— Queens Borough President Donovan Richards (@QnsBPRichards) September 2, 2021
