NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) — With as much as 2 to 5 inches of rain forecast for New York City on Tuesday, the National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the area but how can you know if you might be most at risk?
The website Flood Help NY lets New Yorkers see if they’re in a high flood risk area and, if so, what they can do to protect themselves and their property. Residents and business owners can search their address and get individualized guidance on how best to prevent flooding.
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Flood Help NY is aimed at informing New Yorkers about how they can protect themselves from flooding that’s expected to get worse due to climate change, according to the website. Additionally, organizers give guidance on how to reduce flood risk and lower insurance rates.
The platform comes by way of the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery and the Center for NYC Neighborhoods.
Why does NYC seem to flood easily?
New York City’s sewer system is designed to handle up to 1.5 to 1.75 inches of rainfall per hour. As a result, when short but intense periods of rainfall happen, the system can become overwhelmed.
According to Zach Iscol, the former commissioner of the Office of Emergency Management, the city’s infrastructure was designed for a continental climate 50 years ago, whereas the city has since transitioned into a subtropical climate with heavier and more frequent rain.
Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.
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