New York and New Jersey declare emergencies for nor’easter

Governors in New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency in counties expected to face a powerful nor’easter, as officials prepared for possible flooding, high winds and travel disruptions across the East Coast over the weekend. New York City is among the areas covered by the emergency declarations. The National Weather Service said winds could reach 55 mph in some areas and make driving difficult. Officials warned of possible basement flooding, power outages and transportation delays, but the reports available ahead of the storm did not establish what impacts would occur or how severe they would be. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said it planned to keep trains and buses running while positioning crews and equipment to respond to storm-related problems. MTA Chair Janno Lieber said high winds and the possibility of trees falling onto tracks were the transit system’s biggest concern. He said crews, debris trains, trucks and chainsaws were ready, while service suspensions or reroutes remained possible if conditions required them. The agency also took steps to protect infrastructure in flood-prone locations.