Flood and Fury

The Blame Game

On September 1, 2021, the remnants of Hurricane Ida, which had just pummeled Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane several days earlier, swept through New York City. In a matter of hours, more than half a foot of rain inundated the five boroughs. Easily overwhelming the City’s sewer system, Ida turned streets and subways into raging rivers and flooded homes throughout the region. When all was said and done, more than forty people lost their lives in New York and New Jersey, including eleven victims in Queens. Of the victims who lost their lives in Queens, most were tenants living in illegal basement apartments who got trapped in their flooded basement apartment and could not escape the rising waters.

In this episode of The Blame Game, we try to answer the question of who, if anyone, is to Blame for the tragic loss of life caused by Hurricane Ida? Who is legally responsible for the death of tenants who got trapped in their flooded basement apartments and could not get out in time?

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