Stay dry, Sunset Park! NYC DEP hosts flood preparedness workshop

In early September, during New York’s peak flood season, residents and officials gathered at PS 24 for a flood preparedness town hall.

The event was hosted by the city’s Department of Environmental Protection in partnership with the Greenwood Heights Association, a grassroots group advocating for safe and sustainable housing conditions in the Sunset Park area.

The meeting opened with an icebreaker: “Has anyone ever dealt with flooding?”

Some attendees cited groundwater flooding, when the ground becomes saturated and water seeps into basements, while others described stormwater flooding, when heavy rain overwhelms street drains and sewer systems. The exercise underscored how flooding impacts households differently across the neighborhood.

Beth DeFalco, DEP Chief of Public Affairs, reminded attendees that DEP’s role includes clearing streets so people can safely move and ensuring systems are working after storms. She urged the community to think not just about tools but about environmental efficiency, for example, keeping catch basins clear of leaves and trash, which can block sewer connections. New York City has about 150,000 catch basins in total.

The event also highlighted green infrastructure and collaboration with local organizations. DEP’s Stormwater Project has worked with Greenwood Cemetery, which benefitted from the city’s $53 million Resilient Partners Program, a funding initiative for projects that build climate resilience, reduce flooding, and improve water quality. Greenwood Cemetery used the money for permeable pathways, rain gardens, and water-absorbing landscapes that slow storm runoff.

Flood risks in Sunset Park are not distributed evenly. Greenwood Heights and other elevated neighborhoods are less vulnerable to storm surge, but still face problems when infrastructure fails. In June 2025, a sinkhole on the 400 block of 41st Street caused basement flooding that left one family with thousands of dollars in repair costs, a reminder that even uphill blocks can see serious damage when sewer lines fail or runoff floods basements.

Housing below Third Avenue, closer to the waterfront, is far more directly impacted when floodwaters rise. FEMA and city reports identify many of these blocks as high-risk flood zones. In August 2021, a heavy rainstorm flooded basements of at least a dozen brownstones near 37th Street, damaging furniture and forcing a doctor’s office to discard medical supplies.

District 38 Councilwoman Alexa Avilés said preparedness must include the whole community. “All these events with NYC DEP are geared toward improving people’s lives,” she said.

Avilés emphasized the need to prioritize residents with disabilities. “Our disabled community members must be at the center of this plan,” she said.

Assemblywoman Marcela Mitaynes focused on partnerships with grassroots groups. She pointed to UPROSE Brooklyn, the city’s oldest BIWOC-led environmental justice organization, which has been advocating for sustainability and housing equity since 1966.

“UPROSE does climate resiliency and educates us on the frontlines of how we are impacted,” Mitaynes said. She also spoke about green infrastructure, using tools like parks, green roofs, and water capture systems to ensure better stormwater flow.

Attendees discussed what they took away from the meeting. “Flood preparedness means acknowledging topography and understanding the flood zone,” said resident Jenna Wilkerson, 26.

Donald Williams, 48, spoke about small lifestyle adjustments that can help during heavy rains. “When a storm passes through, I can wait to wash my clothes,” he said. Running a washing machine during a storm adds pressure to sewers already strained by heavy rain.

Every attendee received a flood kit containing a flood sensor, flood barriers, a sump pump with hose and coupling, and a Rainfall Ready brochure with tips for protecting homes.

“These flood sensors are like a fire alarm for water flooding,” DeFalco explained. “They allow tenants to be alerted to groundwater or stormwater flooding.”

The Rainfall Ready brochure includes tips like installing backwater valves to stop sewer backups, directing roof drainage away from foundations, and protecting basement-level doors and windows with flood barriers or sealants.

Organizers say workshops like this town hall help Sunset Park residents stay informed and better prepared as climate change brings more frequent and intense storms.