Metro

Flooding, accidents plague roads in suburbs

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Nearly nonstop rainfall in the saturated New York suburbs flooded parkways through the Wednesday morning rush hour, and the flooding and accidents sent vehicles spilling onto local streets.

Sections of the Bronx River, Hutchinson River, Saw Mill River and Sprain Brook parkways were closed into the afternoon, Westchester County police reported. The Hutchinson and Sprain were reopened in time for the evening rush. Parts of Route 303 in Rockland County also were closed for a time.

The flooding, combined with accidents on the Saw Mill Parkway, Interstate 287 and I-684, detoured drivers onto local roads, which quickly jammed in White Plains, Eastchester, Mount Vernon and elsewhere.

At a gas station in Eastchester, 22-year-old Joclena Thomas, of White Plains, said she was already late for her babysitting job in the Bronx.

“I thought, ‘Stay off the highway,’ but this might be worse,” Thomas said. “I guess you choose water or crowds.”

The rain — at least a few inches since Monday and heavy overnight — also raised the threat of new flooding in neighborhoods that were underwater after Tropical Storm Irene. However, only light rain was predicted for later Wednesday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency opened a disaster recovery center in White Plains on Wednesday morning. Residents and businesses can get help filing for help with losses suffered in Irene.