Ariola has called on the city to \u201cdo more\u201d to ensure that coastal communities are prepared for major flooding and that residents do not become trapped in their homes during stormy weather.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter every storm we say the same thing, and somehow it keeps falling on deaf ears. We need a major infrastructure overhaul here in Queens,\u201d Ariola said in a statement. \u201cThe city wants to keep piling more and more people into our coastal communities, but doesnt want to actually take the steps necessary to support the people already here.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need more to be done, especially when it comes to our catch basins, so people don\u2019t get trapped in their homes or worse when storm season comes our way.\u201d
\n![\"Flooding](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/825273965_10241998229724215_8188265763113189835_n.jpg\")
Flooding in Hamilton Beach. Photo via Denise Graffagnin-Hamilton Beach\/Howard Beach High Tide Pictures Facebook.\n<\/p>\n
David John Perullo, an Old Howard Beach resident who went viral on social media after posting footage of him kayaking through the neighborhood streets, said parts of the neighborhood were at least 2 feet underwater on Sept. 26, adding that the area experiences flooding deep enough that he can kayak in it roughly once a year.<\/p>\n
Perullo said he frequently sees puddling in his basement when flooding rises above six inches, which happens several times a year. However, the home has only suffered serious damage during Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy.<\/p>\n
Still, Perullo said he feels anxious when storms are forecast for the city because of the potential for flooding in the community.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have no idea what this storm is going to entail and how much water it\u2019s going to drag in,\u201d Perullo said. \u201cThe only thing we could really do is board up the windows, and that\u2019s very time consuming. It takes a lot of prep work\u2026 My dad wasn\u2019t home. I was working night shifts, so I\u2019m trying to figure out if I\u2019m calling out of work because I\u2019ve to seal up the house and spend hours and hours sealing up the house.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Residents also face a choice of whether or not they should buy sandbags, Perullo said, which are effective against flooding but quite costly, especially if the water level does not rise significantly during a storm.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to figure out is it worth it to go to the store and spend hundreds of dollars on sandbags to then not even have the water come up high enough,\u201d he said. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to do nothing, but you also don\u2019t want to give up days and lots of money to protect your house and not even need to. So it\u2019d definitely be nice if there were better systems in place to protect the community.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Perullo claimed that outerborough communities like those in Old Howard Beach do not get the same support as wealthy communities in Manhattan and called for more federal funding to prevent flooding in the area. While he stated that it is \u201cfun\u201d to kayak through the neighborhood, he added that it should not be possible to do so.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a funny story \u2013 people kayaking in the streets, but it\u2019s not until there\u2019s real damage that it becomes a concern for the city,\u201d he said.
\n![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/825310007_840057802499948_1867553046679861455_n.jpg\")
David Perullo (purple kayak) with Erin and Maria Perullo (green kayak) and Christine Perullo (orange kayak). Photo via David Perullo.\n<\/p>\n
He noted that the flooding is a \u201cdifferent type\u201d to flooding brought on by heavy rainfall, adding that it needs a different response from the city.<\/p>\n
The US Army Corps of Engineers is currently holding virtual and in-person meetings to solicit public feedback on the Spring Creek South (Howard Beach) Coastal Storm Risk Management Project, which aims to mitigate againt flooding in the area.<\/p>\n