NYC’s First-Ever Flash Flood Emergency Devastates Vehicles

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Big Apple just got submerged in an unexpected flash flood. New Yorkers were horrified as flooding ravaged vehicles. This tragic event also claimed the lives of at least nine individuals and jeopardized the safety of countless citizens. Just how bad was New York City’s first-ever flash flood emergency?

Flash flood emergency wreaks havoc on New York City

Video of NYC flash flood emergency aftermath | NBC News via YouTube

It started as some steady rain. Then, emergency notifications blared through smartphone speakers. These warnings aren’t uncommon, but the rain seemed more persistent than usual. Something was different, something was very wrong. The City That Never Sleeps stared wide-eyed as a historic storm engulfed the streets changing the lives of many forever.

Some woke up on the morning of September 2nd, 2021, in New York City, completely unaware of the severity of the storm that had taken place overnight. At least nine individuals were robbed of their lives by a storm, unlike anything NYC has ever seen. According to NBC News, the storm was a byproduct of Hurricane Ida. The flash flood that ensued caused an apocalyptic scene for citizens and damaged many vehicles.

Some highways suffered such intense flooding that entire vehicles were submerged. Drivers struggled to get home last night in New York as vehicles slid and even floated, attempting to drive through flood waters. Many New Yorkers who endured the storm safely at home feared that their vehicles would be unusable by morning because of flood and water damage.

New York City drivers receive a shocking wake-up call

Video of NYC flash flood emergency aftermath | ABC 7 News via YouTube

The congested highways and roads of New York City aren’t the easiest to navigate. However, New York City rarely has to endure severe storms like the one that Hurricane Ida caused. Flash floods aren’t a major problem for New York City drivers. As a result, most drivers were completely unprepared for the relentless flooding that occurred on the night of September 2nd, 2021.

Many New Yorkers carried on about their day normally until the rain started to pick up on the night of the storm. New York is a tough city. It can handle a little rain. The problem is, this was more than a little rain. For most drivers, the storm and flash flood completely blindsided them. Countless vehicles were abandoned throughout New York City after drivers realized there was no overcoming the flash flood.

There was little action New Yorkers could take as their vehicles struggled to function while being submerged. Water that is higher than half of your wheelbase is usually trouble. The storm brought on inches of rain every hour for hours in NYC. Now New Yorkers are coming to the realization that New York may be subject to other storms like this in the future. This storm could be the first of many disastrous weather catastrophes in the years to come.

What should you do in the event of a flash flood?

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 02: People look at cars abandoned on the flooded Major Deegan Expressway following a night of extremely heavy rain in the Bronx borough of New York City | Spencer Platt via Getty Images

Flash floods happen suddenly and are overwhelming. Many flash flood deaths occur in vehicles. One of the worst things you can do in a flash flood is try to brave it and continue on to your original destination if you have a safer alternative.

Thankfully, technology like our smartphones can send warnings of events like flash floods. The best thing to do in the event of a flash flood is to find an area to safely leave your vehicle and take shelter if you are driving. If you do happen to get caught in a severe flash flood, abandoning your vehicle and getting help could potentially save your life.

RELATED: Detroit Flooding Sinks Dozens of New Jeeps, Chargers, Challengers, and More

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Is Bringing a Robot, Avocados, and Ants to Astronauts

by Gabrielle DeSantis

SpaceX is almost as enigmatic as its CEO Elon Musk. The company is constantly making headlines for dramatic failures or historic accomplishments. Here’s a riddle for you: what do a robot, avocados, and ants have in common? They’re all headed into space on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

The Falcon 9 rocket is headed on a resupply mission

Avocado fruits in a supermarket | Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images

According to Utah news station KSL, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket embarked on a resupply mission on Sunday, August 29th, 2021, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Where was the rocket bound? It was headed for the International Space Station on SpaceX’s 23rd NASA-related mission. The rocket was carrying some much-needed supplies.

The list of supplies ranged from food to experiment materials to common creature comforts. Among the oddest items (and animals) on the inventory list were a robotic arm, ants, and plenty of avocados. Yup, you read that right, avocados. You know…for space stuff.

The avocados were actually part of a list of food items specifically requested by the astronauts on the space station, along with items like ice cream and lemons. Gravity or no gravity, people need their guac. NASA’s space shuttle program ended way back in 2011, so SpaceX plays an important role in getting supplies to brave astronauts like the seven people that currently reside at the International Space Station.

SpaceX does everything that NASA can’t

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket | Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

NASA is historic. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has broadened our understanding of space. Established in 1958 under President Dwight Eisenhower, the company has spent billions of dollars and created hundreds of thousands of space research and exploration jobs. The company is all about expanding our knowledge of Earth and everything beyond it. But understanding the universe is too big a job for just one company.

SpaceX plays an important role in NASA’s operations. Every year NASA gets a multi-billion dollar annual budget. The company has been using funds from this budget to contract SpaceX to go on missions similar to the Falcon 9’s recent resupply mission. In turn, the majority of SpaceX’s funding comes from contracts from organizations like NASA. The two companies are becoming increasingly codependent.

The more NASA contracts that SpaceX signs, the more funding it gets toward the companies personal goals and missions. It’s a win-win situation for both companies as well as the planet when we learn of news and discoveries surrounding these missions. If NASA needs something done that isn’t feasible for the company, it outsources the task to SpaceX.

What is SpaceX trying to accomplish?

The Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) logo seen displayed on a smartphone.
The Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) logo seen displayed on a smartphone. | Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

SpaceX has achieved 90 total landings and 128 total launches. The company is developing reusable launch vehicles that can be used to bring people to different space destinations. SpaceX’s primary goal is to make space travel as easy and common as possible.

Despite plenty of televised failures, the company has kept at it and developed some amazing space crafts. SpaceX has successfully completed plenty of Nasa contracts. If any company exists that can make space travel more common, it’s SpaceX. The company’s main competition is Jeff Bezos’ self-funded Blue Origin, a company with a similar goal. When it comes to space travel, it doesn’t seem like SpaceX can be beaten.

RELATED: SpaceX Will Try to Catch Largest Ever Flying Object With Robot Chopsticks

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The 4 Best Bike Racks for Long-Distance Road Trips

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Cycling is one of the best pastime activities. It’s not only healthy but allows you to visit beautiful destinations without worrying about the inconvenience of car noises. It enhances biodiversity and results in few emissions, which ultimately reduces the rate of air pollution. This is why most people enjoy taking their bikes on their travels.  

Unless you live close to beautiful trails, some of the challenges you’ll face include choosing bike-friendly trails and coordinating time off your normal schedule. Perhaps the most annoying issue you’ll face is safely transporting your bike to your preferred destination. Bikes are often expensive and have high maintenance costs, so you wouldn’t want to ruin yours on long-distance travel. What’s the best solution? Getting a bike rack as a car accessory.

What are the 4 main types of bike racks?

The 4 main types you should consider for your long-distance travel are roof-mounted, trunk-mounted, hitch-mounted, and spare tire-mounted bike racks. These racks are versatile and can even be used to haul jet skis and small boats. 

Trunk mount racks are very affordable and are great for recreational cyclists. Your bike rests on the car trunk and is secured by straps, arms, and cradles. On the other hand, Hitch mount racks are a bit costly but are a great option for frequent travelers. You can either get them in the platform style or hanging cradle style. Spare tire mounts are great for off-road vehicles that have a spare tire on their rear. As the name suggests, when you use a roof mount rack, you tie your bike to the top of your vehicle.

According to The Hobby Biker, the locking hitch-mounted are best for long-distance trips if you can’t fit your bike inside your vehicle.  While roof-mounted racks are more secure, long-distance travels mean extra miles and exposing your bike to more debris. Hitch racks typically offer you more ground clearance and are less expensive.

A quick overview of the top 4 bike racks and their prices

The Saris SuperClamp EX 4-Bike rack is light and perfect if you’re traveling with three or four heavy bikes. This hitch rack can carry two 60-lbs bikes and two 35-lbs bikes, making it great for a family excursion.  It’s currently retailing at $854 on Amazon. 

The Kuat Sherpa 2.0 is a high-performance bike rack but is very affordable. It is beautifully designed, lightweight and easy to stow away when not in use. It can handle bikes of up to 40 lbs and is currently retailing at $630 on Amazon. 

The Thule T2 Pro XTR bike rack is solid and secure, easy to install, and is foldable, making it easy to store. Its load capacity is 120 lbs, can handle most bikes with 20-inch to 29-inch wheels, and is currently retailing at $700 on Thule.

The Yakima OnRamp is highly functional but also budget-friendly. It has a simple design, a unique & efficient loading system, and is e-bike friendly. It’s currently retailing at $649 on the Yakima Site.

Top tips for long-distance travel with your bike 

Before choosing your preferred bike rack, you should conduct extensive research because buying the wrong one for your trip has the potential to ruin it and is also dangerous. Make sure you choose a secure rack for long distances with safety and protective features and preferably a locking bike rack. 

Even though the racks will protect your bike from damage, you should also be prepared for unexpected weather conditions by carrying a bike cover. If you can’t fit the bike in your car, remove the wheels to reduce drag. You should also lubricate your bike generously and flag your rack as a safety precaution. 

RELATED: Do Bike Racks Actually Ruin Your Cars Fuel Economy?

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J.D. Power Surprises: Best New Cars, Trucks, and SUVs of 2021

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Initial Quality Study is out and had some surprising insight into new cars, trucks, and SUVs on the market. New-vehicle quality is up just two percent over 2020, while the average is around three percent. J.D. Power says many new cars are still suffering from issues with the infotainment systems. This likely will not improve anytime soon, with semiconductor chip shortages still plaguing the industry.

J.D. Power IQS: Nissan Maxima one of the best new cars of 2021

Nissan Maxima topped the J.D. Power Best New Cars of 2021 | Nissan

The Initial Quality Study (IQS) differs from the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) from J.D. Power. The IQS measures problems experienced by owners after 90 days, while the VDS studies the first three years of ownership.

For 2021 thus far, the 2021 Nissan Maxima won in the highest initial quality model section. It received a score of only 85 PP100. The Nissan Maxima won in quite a few categories and was one of the best new cars for the year. It was the highest-ranked in the large car section and had the best score of any model in the study. Some other notable Nissan vehicles include the Nissan Altima, Nissan Maxima, and Nissan Murano.

Dave Sargent, vice president of automotive quality at J.D. Power, noted that vehicle and photo technology still have issues. Phones are not connecting to vehicles in the intended fashion, which causes headaches.

“With more vehicles being fitted with the wireless technology owners want, the study reveals an increase in connectivity problems between smartphones and vehicles, leaving many owners unhappy,” Sargent noted. J.D. Power named android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity as one of the biggest headaches.

Hyundai Motor Group took home the most awards from J.D. Power

Hyundai ended up receiving the most awards across the board for this year’s IQS. The Hyundai Motor Group models that ranked highest in their segments are the Genesis G80; Hyundai Accent; Kia Forte; Sedona; Soul; Sportage; and the 2021 Kia Telluride. These were the best new cars from the entire Hyundai brand, which coves a lot of ground.

Following Hyundai, Toyota saw the Lexus RC; Lexus RX; Lexus UX; Toyota Sequoia; and Toyota Tundra rank relatively high. 20 of the 32 rated brands improved quality over 2020. While Toyota is always on the list of the best new cars, this isn’t a surprise. Toyota also took home a Plant Quality Award. In Japan, Toyota’s Motomachi 2 plant received the Platinum Plant Quality Award for producing vehicles with few defects or problems.

Ram was the highest-ranking brand

But the brand that ranked the highest in the J.D. Power study? Ram. Ram had a score of 128 PP100, which made it the highest-ranking brand out of all the others for the first time. And another surprise? Dodge came in second with 139 PP100.

While Tesla doesn’t get an official score, the unofficial score from the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Initial Quality Study was 231 PP100. That is an improvement of 19 over 2020. Tesla isn’t officially ranked as it doesn’t meet specific criteria. J.D. Power gathered data for a score from sample surveys in certain states.

These automakers are expected on a J.D. Power list; it was a big year for new cars, trucks, SUVs, and brands. In a trying year, it is good to see cars are still becoming more reliable than ever.

RELATED: “Carolina Squat” Truck Modification Illegal in North Carolina December 1

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