City Invests in Flood Prevention and Resiliency

Investments of $1.2 billion are aimed at protecting New Yorkers’ lives and property.

 

 

Investments of $1.2 billion are aimed at protecting New Yorkers’ lives and property.

 

 

In marking the third anniversary of Hurricane Ida, the city recently highlighted the completion of several major infrastructure projects designed to prevent future flooding and protect residents from climate-related disasters. At the time, Hurricane Ida had brought the heaviest rainfall in New York City’s recorded history and resulted in 13 deaths. The city’s efforts to become less vulnerable to extreme weather events have resulted in $1.2 billion in investments aimed at protecting New Yorkers’ lives and property.

Sewer Capacity and Drainage

One of the most significant aspects of the city’s flood prevention efforts is the expansion and upgrade of the sewer system. Two major projects in Queens have tackled frequent flooding problems by installing new sewers and expanding drainage capacity. The $106 million Maspeth project added over a mile of new sewers and water mains, while the College Point project, costing $132 million, involved the installation of 8.5 miles of sewers and 300 catch basins.

In addition, the Department of Environmental Protection will install slotted manhole covers citywide to act as secondary drainage systems in case catch basins become clogged. This small but crucial upgrade provides an additional layer of flood protection at street level.

Green Infrastructure

The city is also rethinking the role of concrete and asphalt in flood management. Three acres of concrete medians in Queens Village have been transformed into green spaces capable of absorbing approximately five million gallons of stormwater. These new medians feature subsurface drainage chambers, rocks, and soil designed to retain water and prevent it from overwhelming the sewer system.

Next year, similar green infrastructure projects will begin in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. The city is also investing $32.6 million in seven miles of porous pavement along Brooklyn streets. Unlike traditional asphalt, porous pavement allows stormwater to pass through and be absorbed into the ground. This project is expected to be completed by early 2026, with additional pavement projects planned for other boroughs.

Expanding Bluebelt Systems

One of the city’s most innovative projects is the Bluebelt system, cost-effective drainage ponds that reengineer existing wetlands so that they can naturally manage the precipitation affecting streets and sidewalks. Currently, a three-acre Bluebelt is under construction in Staten Island’s Midland Beach. This builds on the successful completion of the $110 million expansion of the New Creek Bluebelt last year, adding to Staten Island’s network of nearly 100 Bluebelts. These natural drainage systems mitigate inland flooding while preserving local ecosystems, and the city continues to evaluate additional locations for Bluebelt expansions across all five boroughs.

Rain Gardens, Flood Sensors

At the community level, the city has completed over 900 curbside rain gardens in Whitestone, Queens, and Crown Heights, Brooklyn. These gardens are expected to divert 58 million gallons of stormwater from entering the city’s sewer system annually. To date, the city has built more than 10,500 rain gardens.

The city has also installed its 200th flood sensor in Corona, Queens, part of a broader goal to install 500 sensors in flood-prone areas by 2027. These sensors provide real-time flood data through an online dashboard, empowering residents and emergency responders with critical, hyperlocal information during storms. The city is currently piloting the use of traffic cameras for flood detection as well.

The Cloudburst Program

One of the most forward-looking initiatives is the city’s Cloudburst Program, which addresses sudden and heavy downpours like those experienced during Hurricane Ida. Cloudbursts can put lives in danger, damage property, disrupt critical infrastructure, and pollute New York’s waterways. The city’s cloudburst program manages these extreme downpours using localized grey and green infrastructure, open spaces, and other innovative methods of absorbing, storing, and transferring stormwater. Working together, these assets store excess stormwater until torrential rains pass and there’s sufficient capacity in the neighborhood sewer system to better manage it.

A project is underway at NYC Housing Authority’s South Jamaica Houses in Queens, which will capture 3.5 million gallons of stormwater annually. The city has also secured $100 million in federal funds for cloudburst projects in Corona and Kissena, with additional projects planned for East Elmhurst and Central Harlem. Cloudburst projects have already been completed in areas like Parkchester-Morris Park in the Bronx, East New York in Brooklyn, and East Harlem in Manhattan.

Flood Preparedness Education

In addition to large-scale infrastructure improvements, the city is focused on educating and equipping residents with tools to manage flooding. Flood Preparedness Town Halls have been held across the city, distributing flood kits and rain barrels to thousands of New Yorkers. These efforts, combined with the city’s public emergency notification systems and drone-based flood warnings, ensure that residents are informed and prepared in the face of climate risks.

Additionally, to help New Yorkers understand and prepare for the risks associated with rainfall-based flooding, the city has released a new map showing how much flooding results from different levels of rainfall under current and future sea level rise predictions.

 

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