Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency311Search all NYC.gov websites
East and South Shore Staten Island
East and South Shore Staten Island
East and South Shores of Staten Island Overview
The East and South Shores of Staten Island include multiple residential neighborhoods, totaling nearly 70,000 residents. 1- and 2-family homes account for 90 percent of all area buildings, 94 percent of all residential buildings, and 84 percent of all housing units. Though both the East and South Shore have densities well-below City averages, prior to Sandy, the areas were growing steadily. From 2000-2010, the total population of these areas grew by 11 percent. The East and South Shores also contain critical wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and transportation assets – many vulnerable to coastal inundation and other climate risks. As a very brief overview of what happened during Sandy:
- Sandy's arrival at high tide on the Atlantic, its massive surge, and its wind-whipped waves all led to extensive destruction and loss of life; of the 23 storm-related deaths on Staten Island—more than in any other borough—all but one occurred on the East and South Shores
- Many areas on the East Shore were severely flooded due to their low elevation; on the South Shore, waves driven almost parallel to the coastline carved away at the area's protective bluffs, while storm surge traveled into low-lying areas along creeks and tributaries
- Damage to buildings on the East and South Shores was severe - more than 11,700 buildings were located in areas that experienced inundation;
- Marinas across the area were damaged severely; a similar tale of destruction played out for retail stores and commercial structures near the area's beaches and within the inundation area.
- The storm also impacted critical infrastructure, such as the Oakwood Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant, and affected transportation assets like the Staten Island Railway (SIR) and major corridors such as Hylan Boulevard
The Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency conducted ongoing briefings with elected officials, community boards, and community-based organizations along Staten Island's East and South Shores and held two public workshops in the area, designed to acquire feedback directly from the residents. You can read more about these public workshops by clicking on the links below: