Privacy update — September 18, 2026: Identifying details have been removed under our victim privacy policy.
LIVE — May 20, 2026, 8:30 PM. Torrential rainfall from tonight’s severe thunderstorm has turned streets in Jamaica, Queens into waterways. Video from the scene shows pedestrians wading through ankle-deep floodwater on Flushing Avenue as storm drains are overwhelmed.
The Flooding
Video captured on Flushing Avenue in Jamaica, Queens shows pedestrians navigating ankle-deep standing water covering the roadway. Storm drains are visibly overwhelmed — water is pooling faster than the city’s drainage system can handle.
A second video from the area shows the severity of the street-level flooding:
Source: @ferozwala on X
Why Queens Floods First
Jamaica, Queens is one of the most flood-prone neighborhoods in New York City. The area sits in a topographic low point of the Jamaica Bay watershed, and its combined sewer system — designed in the early 20th century — handles both stormwater and sewage in the same pipes. During intense rainfall events, the system’s capacity is exceeded within minutes.
Flushing Avenue and the surrounding streets are particularly vulnerable because:
- The combined sewer system was designed for rainfall intensities common in the 1920s — not the increasingly severe storms hitting the region in the 2020s
- Queens has some of the highest impervious surface coverage (pavement, rooftops, concrete) in NYC, meaning almost zero natural absorption
- The neighborhood’s proximity to Jamaica Bay creates a low hydraulic gradient — water has nowhere to drain quickly
- Multiple construction projects have disrupted existing drainage paths in recent years
Long Island Impact
Queens is the gateway to Long Island. Every Long Island commuter who drives through Queens is affected when its streets flood.
Routes Affected Tonight
- Grand Central Parkway — passes through Jamaica; expect standing water in low sections
- Van Wyck Expressway — the main route to JFK from the LIE; flooding on service roads and ramp connections in the Jamaica area
- Cross Island Parkway — connecting the LIE to the Belt and Southern State; exposed to runoff from the Queens/Nassau border
- Queens Boulevard / Hillside Avenue — surface street alternatives are flooded too
- JFK Airport — accessible but surrounding roads may be flooded. Use AirTrain from Jamaica LIRR if possible.
LIRR Service
Severe thunderstorms typically trigger speed restrictions on exposed LIRR track sections. Check MTA LIRR alerts for real-time service status. The Jamaica station hub — the transfer point for nearly every LIRR branch — is in the middle of the flooding zone.
The Infrastructure Pattern Continues
This flooding comes on the same day as:
- A sinkhole shut down LaGuardia Airport’s Runway 4/22
- A school bus with 39 children got stuck in a sinkhole on E 180th St in the Bronx
- The NWS issued a severe thunderstorm warning with 60 mph winds and hail for NYC
As our data analysis documented earlier today, four sinkholes in seven days reflects an infrastructure system already under stress from above-average rainfall. Tonight’s flooding adds more water to already-saturated ground — further increasing the risk of additional ground failures in the coming days.
Safety Reminders
- Do not drive through standing water — 6 inches of flowing water can knock a person down; 12 inches can float a car; 2 feet will carry away most vehicles including SUVs
- Avoid underpasses — they fill first and deepest
- If you’re stuck in flood water — abandon the vehicle if water is rising. Get to higher ground.
- After the flood — avoid walking through floodwater (contamination from combined sewers), check for undermined pavement, report sinkholes to 311 or 911
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 regarding Long Island and NYC accident claims.