New York City flooded a subway station because ‘climate change is real’

The New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) flooded the Broadway subway station in Williamsburg this morning to test a new “flex gate” that’s designed to seal off MTA stations from flooding, Business Insider reports.

When a MTA user asked about the flooded subway station on Twitter, MTA replied jokingly “We’re pivoting to submarines.”

In its next tweet, MTA explained what was really happening.

“We were testing a new ‘flex gate,’ which is a flood barrier that would allow us to seal off a subway entrance,” MTA tweeted. “We ‘test flood’ the entrance for four hours to make sure it was installed correctly, which it was!”

“We’re doing this because climate change is real,” MTA added.

But actually, we were testing a new “flex gate,” which is a flood barrier that would allow us to seal off a subway entrance. We “test flood” the entrance for four hours to make sure it was installed correctly, which it was!

We’re doing this because climate change is real. ^JLP

— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) November 20, 2019

The danger of flooded subway stations is real in New York. In 2012, Superstorm Sandy entirely flooded nine subway stations, causing billions of dollars in damage. 

According to Business Insider, the “flex gates” are part of MTA’s $5 billion initiative to upgrade the subway’s storm readiness. 

Made of kevlar, the “flex gates” can keep out up to 14 feet of water.