Mayor Eric Adams faced criticism for his slow response to a major storm that hit New York City, leaving large portions of the city underwater and disrupting subway service. While Governor Kathy Hochul and state transit officials issued warnings and held press conferences, Adams did not address the public until almost noon on Friday. Instead, he attended a campaign fundraiser the night before the storm hit. Adams defended his response, stating that all necessary precautions were taken and that his administration had relied on others to alert residents. However, critics argue that an earlier warning could have saved lives and prevented further damage. They believe the city needs to be better prepared for climate emergencies.
This is not the first time that Adams has faced criticism for his response to an emergency. In June, when smoke from Canadian forest fires caused dangerous air quality in the city, Adams and Hochul did not appear publicly for 12 hours, leaving residents unprepared. Adams responded to criticism by asking whether he should also be prepared if a meteor fell to Earth. City agencies did take some action in response to the storm, such as clearing catch basins and providing flood barriers. However, the overall response was deemed inadequate by community organizations and residents, particularly those in basement apartments that were flooded.
After Hurricane Ida, which caused 13 deaths in New York City, Adams expressed shock at seeing flooding in inland parts of Brooklyn and called for a different approach to climate change. His predecessor, Bill de Blasio, promised a more aggressive response to extreme weather events and created the position of Extreme Weather Coordinator at City Hall. It is unclear if this position has been filled under Adams’ administration. The city also promised to identify basement apartment dwellers and assist them in creating evacuation plans, among other promises. However, it is unknown how many of these promises have been fulfilled. The slow response to the recent storm highlights the need for better preparation and communication in the face of climate emergencies.