Saturday, 4 September 2021 (YJC)_ after the remnants of Ida battered the region, it is said most of the homes where residents were found dead in New York City were illegally converted.
Most of the homes where residents were found dead in New York City after the remnants of Ida battered the region were illegally converted basement or cellar apartments, city officials said Friday.
An analysis that was done by the city's buildings department in the aftermath of Wednesday's massive flooding showed that five of the six structures were illegal -- and were also the location where 10 of the city's 13 victims were found.
The victims included a 2-year-old boy who was found dead with both his parents in their makeshift home, officials said.
"We know the basement apartments create a whole set of particular challenges," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said in his Friday briefing. "We are now going to be speaking -- going forward -- to people who live in basement apartments, specific messages, specific cell phone alerts, telling people about the vulnerabilities they face in these kinds of rain events."
Illegal conversions are defined by the city as an additional room that was constructed without getting the proper permits by city officials, according to the buildings department. They usually have common characteristics, such as no escape route that can be used in emergencies, shoddy gas or electrical work and substandard construction in areas with no light or ventilation, according to the buildings department.
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