Amazon workers had to work in floodwaters after Hurricane Idai...

Affected by Hurricane Ida, strong winds and heavy rains hit New York City and its surrounding areas, causing severe flooding and turning New York City into a "lake". It is reported that as of 8 am today, at least 60 people have died in eight states in the United States due to the hurricane.

Amazon is keeping its warehouses open and expecting employees to come to work as normal despite the extreme weather . The National Weather Service has issued the first-ever flash flood emergency warning for the region , and residents in New York have received warnings on their phones that read: " Please do not go out unless you are fleeing a flooded area or under an evacuation order . "

However, according to anonymous sharing information received by foreign media GIZMODO , extreme weather is not a sufficient reason for Amazon employees to refuse shifts . Because Amazon warehouses are still open, people also need Amazon to continue delivery activities . Jonathan Bailey , an employee of an Amazon warehouse in New York City , said that although the flood was "very crazy" , it was not a shocking thing that employees were expected to still work shifts at Amazon .

It is reported that this is not the first time that Amazon employees have worked in extreme weather . In June , a TikTok user posted a video showing an Amazon driver delivering goods on a flooded road in Detroit . In the same month, during record high temperatures in the Pacific Northwest , Amazon warehouse employees in Washington were still working indoors with inadequate cooling equipment .

Image from TikTok user @plantmami5

Despite the flooding , it 's not just Amazon employees who have to work in this situation . It is reported that American ride-hailing platforms Lyft and Uber are still operating . In addition, a video on Twitter shows that a worker claiming to be GrubHub is still pushing a bicycle through waist-deep floodwaters to deliver goods .

Image from Twitter user @Unequal Scenes

The United States ' protection measures for workers in extreme weather are clearly insufficient. However, as key industries that sustain people's lives, such as express delivery, taxis, and food delivery, it seems unlikely that they will completely stop working. In any case, it is still very necessary to protect the personal safety of workers in extreme weather.

In the latest information updated by foreign media GIZMODO at 4:15 am today , Amazon spokesman Richard Rocha issued the following statement: "Out of an abundance of caution, we have closed several Amazon facilities and delivery stations in the path of Hurricane Ida. We will resume operations at these sites only when it is safe. The safety and well-being of our employees and package delivery drivers remains our top priority, and we will be with those affected. " The spokesperson did not specify whether any workers were forced to work during the storm.

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