NYC Mayor unveils new interactive flood map, action plan to reduce risk to heavy rainfall
New York City Mayor Adams has unveiled a new interactive flood map and action plan so that all New Yorkers can reduce their own risk to heavy rainfall.
As climate change brings with it even more intense and frequent storms, New Yorkers must meet this challenge by both the public and private sector to take actions to become giant sponges, designing all of our infrastructure to hold, store and reuse water to the fullest extent.
The sewers of the city are not ready for an increase in the intensity and frequency of rain.
When Hurricane Ida dropped multiple inches per hour on every single neighborhood, the water needed to go somewhere.
Rain traveled across streets and impervious surfaces, picking up raw sewage along the way before traveling to the lowest points in the city, basements, garages, first-floor apartments, highways and subways, flooding living spaces and requiring evacuations of vehicles, homes and businesses.
In order to avoid the needless loss of life and property, the city needs to make this issue a priority in its policies and budgets.
Expanding existing initiatives spearheaded by the Departments of Environmental Protection and Parks can become innovative solutions that will benefit New Yorkers every day.
