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Last week, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued the first flash flood emergency warning in New York City's history, making the call as the remnants of Hurricane Ida battered the city with record levels of rainfall.
More than 40 people died during the catastrophic event... but its obvious severity didn't stop people from ordering delivery.
A video showing a delivery man guiding his bicycle through treacherous flood waters, bag of food in hand, soon went viral.
And through it all! @Grubhub delivery still out there bringing your dinner #ida #flooding #brooklynpic.twitter.com/2baP69JXhW— Unequal Scenes (@Unequal Scenes) 1630549006
The video quickly caught the attention of New York Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who chastised New Yorkers for putting "vulnerable people at risk" during a citywide emergency.
Please do not be the person who orders delivery during a flash flood that the NWS has deemed a dangerous and life-threatening situation. It puts vulnerable people at risk.\n\nIf it\u2019s too dangerous for you, it\u2019s too dangerous for them. Raid your cabinets or ask a neighbor for help.https://twitter.com/UnequalScenes/status/1433252530713243648\u00a0\u2026— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1630552098
Ocasio-Cortez wrote:
"Please do not be the person who orders delivery during a flash flood that the NWS has deemed a dangerous and life-threatening situation. It puts vulnerable people at risk."
She stressed that those who are considering ordering food should consider other options first:
"If it's too dangerous for you, it's too dangerous for them. Raid your cabinets or ask a neighbor for help."
Many agreed with the Congresswoman that ordering food during dangerous weather is a "selfish" action.
They also criticized the restaurant industry for not paying fair wages and creating unsustainable working conditions that force workers to put making money above their own safety.
Ordering delivered food during a flash food/tornado is sickeningly selfish. Think next time about those you put in harms way.https://twitter.com/aoc/status/1433265498507055108\u00a0\u2026— Julie (@Julie) 1630626680
Ordering takeout for funsies during a major storm is a dick move.https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1433265498507055108\u00a0\u2026— Michael C. Bailey - indie author, stage combat guy (@Michael C. Bailey - indie author, stage combat guy) 1630578959
Anyone who ordered food delivery last night was also a bad tipper, you just know.https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1433265498507055108\u00a0\u2026— Celina Schocken (@Celina Schocken) 1630585669
Maybe also don't be a restaurant that's open and taking orders more importantly? Or a website that's still taking orders? https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1433265498507055108\u00a0\u2026— REDACTED Praxis \ud83c\udff4\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\u24cb (@REDACTED Praxis \ud83c\udff4\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\u24cb) 1630593318
So many wrong things:\n1st why would the restaurant stay opened?\n2nd why would the restaurant keep take away option available?\n3rd why are people so selfish and order take away while this is happening?https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1433265498507055108\u00a0\u2026— Daniela (@Daniela) 1630576932
When Vegas was put under a warning for a bad storm that rolled through the dasher app lit up like a Christmas tree. Why do people get told to stay inside and then go oh right now would be a great time for McDonald's. Delivery services need to suspend service during bad storms.https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1433265498507055108\u00a0\u2026— Whack (@Whack) 1630581397
This is what is wrong with consumer culture. We only think about ourselves and not working people. Even during dangerous natural events and weather, we're so selfish we're willing to put others at risk just because they service us.https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1433265498507055108\u00a0\u2026— :: 1.21 Gigawatts :: (@:: 1.21 Gigawatts ::) 1630590898
Have we gotten so fucked up as a society that someone literally has to tell y\u2019all not to make food orders during a fucking life-threatening storm? Jesus fucking christ! Also, fuck the food apps for not paying fair wages or even caring about their deliverers.https://twitter.com/aoc/status/1433265498507055108\u00a0\u2026— Orville Rickenbacker (@Orville Rickenbacker) 1630637750
so much to be said about people having to constantly put their bodies on the line for MONEY. It\u2019s ridiculous.https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1433265498507055108\u00a0\u2026— charlene, mpa \ud83c\udf3b (@charlene, mpa \ud83c\udf3b) 1630555597
In response to criticism, food delivery platform Grubhub said it is working to determine if the man in the video is one of their own delivery workers.
A Grubhub spokesperson said "...safety of delivery workers is a top priority," adding:
"While we always appreciate the hard work drivers put in to get the job done, no delivery worker for any company or restaurant should ever take an action that would jeopardize their safety."
Ocasio-Cortez, who has held office since 2019, counts labor rights and income inequality among the more prominent elements of her platform.
After the storm had passed, she pointed out that the climate crisis, which contributed to Hurricane Ida's strength, is also an "inequality crisis."