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Flooding and Climate Change

Climate change is causing more sudden and powerful storms that are bringing more intense rainfall to New York City. We have been working aggressively to address flooding caused by climate change-induced storms and have begun planning for true stormwater resilience for New York City. In our planning efforts, we consider the different types of flooding impacting communities and work to tailor solutions to the needs of each neighborhood.

To learn about what to do during or after a flood, visit NYC Emergency Management.

Types of Flooding

There are different types of flooding that can happen in NYC.

catch basin with water running into it

Street Flooding

Leaves and trash can accumulate on top of the catch basin grates and block drainage, causing rainwater to flood the street.

  

diagram of coastal flooding conditions

Coastal Flooding

In coastal areas, high tide combined with storm surge can send tidal water back into the sewer system—creating overflows from manholes, catch basins, and basement connections.

  

diagram of groundwater flooding

Groundwater Flooding

When the ground becomes saturated, water will find penetration points such a crack in the foundation wall or a leaking floor drain. This typically occurs after a rainstorm because prolonged rain leads to over-saturation.

  

diagram of a sewer backup

Sewer Backups

Sewers can get overwhelmed during heavy rainfall where amount of stormwater is greater than the capacity of the pipes. This causes overflows from manholes, catch basins, basement sewer connections, also known as Sewer Backups. 

  

The City’s Toolkit

DEP oversees a broad citywide effort to better manage stormwater to prevent flooding and improve the health of our local waterways.

a catch basin on a rainy day
The City continues to build new, separate sewers to reduce street flooding and the amount of Sewer Overflows discharged into local waterways.
a rain garden with water flowing into it
Green infrastructure collects stormwater from streets, sidewalks, and other hard surfaces before it can enter the sewer system or cause local flooding.
rendering of cloudburst infrastructure
Cloudburst Hubs feature a network of stormwater management interventions that work together to mitigate flooding and fortify neighborhoods against climate change.
a lush overhead view of a bluebelt wetland
The Bluebelt Program preserves natural drainage corridors and enhances them to perform their functions of conveying, storing, and filtering stormwater.

How to Protect Your Home

There’s actually a lot New Yorkers can do to protect their homes and our city from flooding:

diagram of a home flooding

Rainfall Ready: A Homeowner’s Guide

For tips to help you protect your home from flooding and sewer backups during rainfall events, download Rainfall Ready: A Homeowner’s Guide in:

English, Español, العربية, 简体中文, Kreyòl Ayisyen, 한국어, Pусский, বাংলা, Français, Polski, اردو, Italiano.

  

catch basin with leaves on top of the grates

Clear Catch Basin Grates

DEP cleans and maintains 150,000 Catch Basins citywide. Prior to a storm, you can help ensure they’ll function at their best by clearing debris from the grates. If you see a clogged or damaged catch basin, call 311 or fill in this form.

  

a seal holding a cell phone

WAIT

You can voluntarily WAIT to use water in your home during heavy rainfall to help keep our waterways clean for your community and wildlife. Learn more about Wait.

  

a sideview of a fatberg forming under the street

Trash It. Don't Flush It.

Fatbergs form when grease, wipes and other stuff get flushed, clogging pipes and draining wallets. Every New Yorker can help by learning how to Trash It. Don’t Flush It.