In 30, the number of dead from storms in the U.S.

In a region that was warned of potentially deadly floods, but was not prepared for such a blow from the hurricane, the storm killed at least 32 people from Maryland to New York on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

At least 12 people died in New York City, police said, one of them in a car and 11 in flooded basement apartments that often serve as relatively affordable homes in one of the most expensive housing markets in the country.

The suburbs of Westchester reported three deaths, writes adnews.

Officials said at least 10 people died in New Jersey and at least five in Pennsylvania, including one killed by a fallen tree and another who drowned in his car after helping his wife to escape, according to the authorities. A state police sergeant of Connecticut died after his cruiser left.

In New York City, Sophy Liu woke her son out of bed and put him in a life jacket and a swimming ring, and their apartment on the first floor was flooded in Queens.

Unable to open the door against water force, she summoned friends for help. The water was nearly 5m (1.5m) high when they came to rescue it, she said.

I was clearly scared, but I had to be strong for my son. I had to calm her down, ” she recalls Thursday as medical examiners pulled three bodies out of a house on the street.

In another part of Queens, the water quickly filled Deborah Torres' apartment on the first floor up to the knees, while her owner rushed with fury her neighbours below- which included a baby-going out, she said. But the water went in so hard that she assumed they were unable to open the door. The three residents died.

I have no words. How could anything like that happen?”, she said.

The National Urangan Centre had warned on Tuesday of the potential for the considerable and life- threatening <x0 floods” and heavy river floods in the middle Atlantic region and New England.

However, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the storm force surprised them.

We did not know that between 8:50 and 9:50 p.m. last night, the heavens would be opened literally and would bring the water level to the waters of Niger on the streets of New York,” said Hochul, a Democrat who became governor last week after former Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned.

Wednesday's storm eventually rained over two inches [23 cm] in parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and almost as much as in Staten Island, New York City.

In Washington, President Joe Biden assured Northeast residents that the first federal reactors were on the ground to help clean up.

As Ida's remains hit New York City, several highways were flooded, trash was thrown into leaky roads and water entered the city subway tunnels, blocking at least 17 trains and banned service until early morning. Videos on the Internet showed knights standing in seats in sunken cars. All riders were safely evacuated, officials said.