DiNapoli’s office showing that billion-dollar severe weather disasters have increased since 1980. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced new budget allocations and project rollouts on August 7, 2026, aimed at protecting historically underfunded neighborhoods that face severe flooding risks during heavy rains and storms.
Did You Know? DiNapoli’s office, disasters linked to severe weather costing more than $1 billion have occurred increasingly in New York since 1980.
Mayor Mamdani Allocates Millions for Coastal Resilience and Stormwater Upgrades
To combat the consistent threat of heavy rainfall and rising sea levels, Mayor Mamdani recently allocated $43.2 million in the city budget to expand the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Bureau of Coastal Resilience. According to the mayor’s office, this funding covers the hiring of additional engineers, field crews, city planners, and flood experts. Furthermore, the city dedicated $108 million to modernize more than 6,700 catchbasins citywide to improve drainage and keep street litter out of the system. Mamdani stated that the city has already cleared over 7,100 catchbasins in the seven months his administration has been in office.
The city’s Emergency Management Department (NYCEM) has also updated its flash flood warning system through Notify NYC, 311, and LinkNYC kiosks. DEP Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia emphasized the importance of household preparation during a roundtable event, noting that the city has handed out free flood preparedness kits containing reusable flood barriers, sump pumps, hoses, and flood alarms.
Queens Borough President Highlights Severe Inland Flooding and Historic Disinvestment
Richards Jr. pointed out that inland communities like Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, and Laurelton routinely see basements flood even during light rain. Richards, who served as the first Black councilmember to chair the Environmental Protection Committee from 2013 to 2020, noted that previous administrations under Mayors Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio failed to provide adequate infrastructure funding to southeast Queens. According to the DEP, a $2.7 billion push is currently underway to build out storm sewers in the region.
Construction is currently underway in Rosedale, where the city aims to invest roughly $51.8 million to manage stormwater, enhance tapwater distribution, and reconstruct streets. However, Richards warned that challenges remain in areas like St. Albans due to an extremely high water table and a century-old pipe network that requires widening to mitigate nuisance flooding. The mayor’s office reports that nearly 440,000 residents, 14,500 businesses, and roughly $250 billion in property value sit within the city’s 100-year floodplain.
Expert Insight: As New York confronts chronic tidal and coastal flooding driven by climate change, city officials face the complex challenge of rectifying decades of municipal underinvestment in Black and Brown communities.
Federal Funding Rollbacks and Ongoing Local Resiliency Projects
Local stormwater resilience efforts face headwinds following federal funding rollbacks under President Donald Trump, which resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars being revoked from projects in communities of color like East Elmhurst.
Across the city, the DEP oversees 15 active infrastructure projects. These include the $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project on the Lower East Side, alongside upcoming coastal defense systems such as the Brooklyn Bridge-Montgomery Coastal Resilience, Seaport Coastal Resilience, and Red Hook Coastal Resiliency projects.
Legislative Push for State-Level Oversight and Green Infrastructure
State lawmakers are pushing for legislative reforms to address stormwater management across New York. Senator Cordell Cleare co-sponsors the Rain Ready New York Act (A7467A/S4071B), which would grant water and sewer authorities oversight of stormwater management and allow public authorities to adopt climate resiliency and water quality policies. Mayor Mamdani previously co-sponsored the bill while serving in the assembly.
Advocates and officials argue that hard infrastructure must be paired with nature-based solutions. Caleb Smith, policy manager at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, stated that green infrastructure helps reduce overwhelming pressure on the stormwater system by utilizing vegetation, weatherization, and roof repairs to improve drainage in environmental justice communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
[What specific budget allocations has the city made for coastal resilience?]
Mayor Mamdani allocated $43.2 million in the budget to expand the DEP Bureau of Coastal Resilience and dedicated $108 million to modernize more than 6,700 catchbasins citywide. Additionally, the city is advancing a $2.7 billion push to build out storm sewers in southeast Queens, which includes a $51.8 million investment specifically for the Rosedale neighborhood.
[Which neighborhoods are currently experiencing significant flooding challenges?]
According to local officials, vulnerable areas include inland communities in Queens such as Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, Laurelton, St. Albans, East Elmhurst, Arverne, Far Rockaway, Edgemere, and Hook Creek, as well as waterfront locations like Esplanade Gardens in East Harlem and Red Hook in Brooklyn.
[What is the purpose of the Rain Ready New York Act?]
Co-sponsored by Senator Cordell Cleare, the Rain Ready New York Act (A7467A/S4071B) would grant water and sewer authorities oversight of stormwater management and empower public authorities to adopt specific climate resiliency and water quality policies.
How will your local neighborhood be impacted by upcoming stormwater infrastructure projects and coastal defense initiatives?
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