Victims included a two-year-old boy, his mum, 48, and dad, 50, who all drowned when their basement home was submerged. The family were among at least nine people killed in New York City after a month’s worth of rain fell on America’s North East on Wednesday night. The record levels of water gushed into homes in the region and smashed cars into buildings.

       Several other people died in New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

       Earlier in the day, tennis fans tried to shelter as a huge downpour smashed through a roof at the US Tennis Open.

       Yesterday subways were shut, flights were cancelled and cars were banned from roads as governors declared a state of emergency.

       President Joe Biden has pledged a massive federal response to help victims of Ida’s destruction. He said: “We’re providing any help that you’re going to need.”