Major flooding in Queens forces scores of residents to wade through high water as they evacuate their homes – with cops carrying kids over their shoulders – after winter storm hits New York
- Residents in Rockaway and Howard Beach were compelled to abandon their homes ahead of the holiday due to massive overnight flooding
- Emergency responders were on the scene quickly Friday morning to help families escape as the winter storm hits New York
- The storm has caused at least 8,000 flight delays and cancelations on Friday as it continues to disrupt the Christmas travel plans of Americans
The chaotic winter storm currently walloping the country has caused major tidal flooding in areas along the New York coast and forced scores of families to evacuate their homes just two days before Christmas.
Videos illustrate the impact of rising tides that left some vehicles underwater and flooded townhomes in the Rockaways and other regions of South Queens.
First responder police and fire department workers were on the scene assisting trapped residents and carrying children over their shoulders out of harm’s way.
Dozens of cars were stranded during the high tide event in Howard Beach, Queens and on parts of Long Island – though no injuries have so far been reported.
Major flooding in areas of Queens led to scores of evacuations as the brutal winter storm hit parts of New York and the coast on Thursday night
Parts of major New York and New Jersey highways were closed due to flooding and downed trees. The closures coincide with a commercial vehicle ban that is in effect for parts of both states.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm’s arrival.
In Rockaway, video footage shows neighbors being rescued out of their ground floor windows and moved to higher ground as water reached waist level and submerged cars.
Others were seen carrying duffels as they make a last minute dash from their homes.
Emergency vehicles can be seen making their way through several inches of flooding in Howard Beach and in neighboring New Jersey, as trains were delayed up to 30-minutes out of the Hoboken Terminal due to high water conditions.
Massive coastal flooding has also hit areas of Maine and Massachusetts as the deadly storm arrived on the east coast Thursday night.
Emergency New York workers scene assisting trapped residents as they contended with major flooding on Friday morning
Waters reaching up a few feet plagued parts of Rockaway and Howard Beach as residents were forced to evacuate their homes days before the holiday weekend
Emergency vehicles made their way Thursday morning to Rockaway and Howard Beach, where residents were unexpectedly hit by a flood ahead of the holiday weekend
Intense waves crash over a sea wall in Winthrop, Massachusetts as the brutal winter storm bears down on the coast days before Christmas
Vehicles attempt to make their way through many inches of flooding on the streets of Portland, Maine by the waterfront
The winter storm has caused significant travel delays for travelers across the US ahead of the holiday weekend
New York first responders made their way through many inches of water Friday morning to assist those in need in Rockaway and Howard Beach
Some were forced to make last minute dashes out of their homes as water levels rose
In addition to the intense flooding, the storm also brought with it a dramatic cold front that is hitting the are on Friday afternoon.
Temperatures are expected to plummet 30 degrees in the afternoon areas, landing in the teens, before falling into single digits on Saturday.
In other parts of the country, the storm has already proven itself to be a fatal threat, with traffic deaths out of Kansas, Oklahoma and Oregon being reported earlier this week.
Strong winds of up to 35 miles per hour are also expected to accompany the already frightening weather, creating potentially life-threatening temperatures and wind chill of minus 30 degrees.
On Friday alone, around 10,000 US flights were delayed and over 3,000 have been canceled.
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