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CRITICAL — May 20, 2026, 10:00 PM. A car is fully submerged on the Jackie Robinson Parkway heading toward the Grand Central Parkway. Video shows a Good Samaritan leaving his own vehicle to rescue the trapped occupants. This is the fourth major east-west corridor knocked out by tonight’s flooding — effectively cutting off all road routes from NYC to Long Island.
The Rescue
The poster, @AmendAndRevise, wrote what many New Yorkers are thinking tonight:
“~20 minutes of rain in NYC should not lead to complete infrastructure failure like this. Kudos to the man who got out of his vehicle to help the folks in the submerged car on the Jackie Robinson Pkwy heading toward the Grand Central.”
Twenty minutes of rain. Complete infrastructure failure. That’s the story of May 20, 2026.
Every Route to Long Island Is Cut Off
The Jackie Robinson Parkway is a critical connector between Brooklyn and Queens — it feeds directly into the Grand Central Parkway, which connects to the Long Island Expressway at the Kew Gardens interchange. When the Jackie Robinson floods, it severs one of the last remaining links between the city and the island.
As of 10 PM EDT, here is the status of every major east-west corridor from NYC to Long Island:
| Route | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway (I-495) | ❌ CLOSED | Flash flooding at 188th St in Fresh Meadows — all lanes blocked both directions |
| Jackie Robinson Parkway | ❌ FLOODED | Car submerged, Good Samaritan rescue in progress |
| Hillside Avenue | ❌ FLOODED | From 168th St to Clearview Expressway — impassable |
| Hempstead Avenue | ❌ FLOODED | Queens Village — “worst flooding I have seen” per local report |
| Atlantic Avenue | ❌ FLOODED | Brooklyn — major artery to Belt Parkway knocked out |
| Merrick Ave / Liberty Ave | ❌ FLOODED | Homes flooding, FDNY responding, no emergency alerts sent to phones |
| Grand Central Parkway | ⚠️ IMPAIRED | Jackie Robinson feeder flooded, expect major backups |
| Belt Parkway | ⚠️ UNKNOWN | Not yet confirmed flooded but at risk given South Shore low elevation |
| Northern State Parkway | ⚠️ PASSABLE | Best remaining option if accessible from Nassau County side |
| Southern State Parkway | ⚠️ PASSABLE | Best remaining option if accessible from Nassau County side |
If you are in Brooklyn or Queens trying to get to Long Island tonight: don’t. Wait until the water recedes. If you must travel, the LIRR is your best option — check MTA LIRR alerts for service status.
The Infrastructure Question
Twenty minutes of heavy rain should not submerge a car on a state parkway. The Jackie Robinson Parkway (formerly the Interboro Parkway) was built in the 1930s along the former route of the LIRR Rockaway Branch corridor. Its low-lying sections — particularly where it passes through Forest Park — sit in a natural drainage basin that was never designed for the rainfall intensities of modern severe thunderstorms.
This is the same infrastructure failure pattern we’ve documented across the region tonight:
- Queens flooding at Flushing Avenue — combined sewer system overwhelmed
- Bushwick flash flooding — streets turned into rivers
- Merrick/Liberty Ave homes flooding — FDNY responding, no WEA alerts sent
- Three sinkholes in six days — the ground itself is failing
The common thread: aging infrastructure built for a different climate, under a city that deferred the maintenance needed to keep it functional.
What to Do If Your Car Is Trapped in Flood Water
If you find yourself in a vehicle that is entering or submerged in flood water:
- Do NOT try to drive through it — 12 inches of moving water can float a car. 2 feet will carry away most SUVs.
- If water is rising around your car: Unbuckle your seatbelt, unlock the doors, and get out immediately. Move to higher ground.
- If the car is submerged and doors won’t open: Wait for the water pressure to equalize (water fills the interior), then push the door open. Or break a side window with a headrest post or window breaker tool.
- If you see someone else trapped: Call 911 first, then assist only if you can do so safely without entering deep water yourself. The Good Samaritan on the Jackie Robinson made the right call — he assessed the risk and acted.
- After the water recedes: Do not attempt to restart a flood-damaged vehicle. Have it towed and inspected by a mechanic. Water damage to electronics, engine, and transmission can cause delayed failures.
Were You Injured?
If you or someone you know was injured in tonight’s storm — whether in a car accident caused by flooding, a slip and fall from downed debris, or property damage from infrastructure failure — you may have a legal claim. Under New York law, claims against a city or county for inadequate emergency response or infrastructure failure must be filed within 90 days under General Municipal Law §50-e. Consult a licensed New York personal injury attorney for free consultations for Long Island and NYC accident victims.