New York man killed by falling tree caused by Hurricane Isaias
Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed the death during a radio interview on Tuesday where he warned residents to stay indoors until the storm had passed the city
A 60-year-old man was killed when a tree fell on his vehicle in Queens during Hurricane Isaias.
It is believed that the man was a construction worker who was working at a nearby site and was taking a break in the van and eating his lunch. The man has been identified as Mario Siles of Manhattan.
READ MORE: Hurricane Isaias causes major damage as it approaches the U.S.
According to AM NY, Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed the death during a radio interview on Tuesday where he warned residents to stay indoors until the storm had passed the city.
“It’s very dangerous out there from the winds, and we have a few more hours of the very high winds,” de Blasio said. “This is a big issue around the city and what happened in Queens is a sad and horrible situation — just when a person is there, then instantly they are gone. It was a very sudden situation.”
Another person, a 49-year-old woman, was critically injured by a falling tree branch in Brooklyn.
The storm caused widespread power outages across the city, downed trees, and live power lines. News outlets compared it to 2012’s Hurricane Sandy.
Flights in and out of New York were canceled and train and bus service has been interrupted.
According to the New York Times, at least 267,000 Con Edison customers had lost power by nightfall. The company said that repairs to restore power could take days.
The New York City Housing Authority is taking steps to support tenants without electricity.
READ MORE: CDC quietly releases reopening plan as ‘busy’ hurricane season looms
De Blasio also closed beaches.
“Sometimes people think a storm, what a great time to be on the beach, and the dramatic waves. Don’t even think about going in the water. The beaches are closed for a reason. It’s very dangerous in the water under this kind of condition,” he said.
As the storm recedes, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers remain without power this morning.
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