Impacts of Extreme Rainfall
Extreme rainfall events pose significant health risks for New Yorkers. New Yorkers can face risks of drowning, particularly those living in basement apartments. During Hurricane Ida in 2021, flash flooding caused by extreme rainfall resulted in at least 13 deaths in New York City. A majority of those who died drowned in basement apartments and at least one was trapped by floodwaters while driving. Older New Yorkers and those with limited mobility face challenges evacuating flooding areas, and New Yorkers who are not English-proficient may not receive emergency information that is in their language or that is culturally appropriate. In particular, undocumented New Yorkers and those experiencing homelessness may be hardest to reach due to limited networks and potential inability or reluctance to access services. Stormwater flooding can also trigger new mental health challenges in a community, given that these episodes often cause high anxiety and stress. Extreme rainfall can even cause sewers to overflow, exposing New Yorkers and natural systems to contaminated water.
When water is trapped in houses or buildings after extreme rainfall, residents could be at risk to mold exposure. Those risks are even greater for lower-income residents living in substandard housing. Additionally, New Yorkers needing home meal delivery or home health care may miss meals or treatment if extreme storms prevent caregivers from accessing their homes or locating them in temporary housing and may not be able to get to medical facilities affected by flooding. Residents who require power for medical care equipment or to refrigerate medication are placed at risk during power outages.
নিম্ন আয়ের বাসিন্দাদের বন্যার ঘটনাগুলির জন্য প্রস্তুত বা সাড়া দেওয়ার জন্য কম আর্থিক সংস্থান থাকতে পারে এবং কিছু সাশ্রয়ী মূল্যের আবাসনগুলি বন্যার ঝুঁকিতে অত্যন্ত উন্মুক্ত। স্বল্প আয়ের বাড়ির মালিকরাও দুর্যোগের পরে আর্থিকভাবে লড়াই করতে পারে যদি তাদের কাছে প্রয়োজনীয় বাড়ি মেরামতের জন্য অর্থ প্রদানের অর্থ না থাকে। ভাড়াটেরা, বিশেষ করে নিম্ন আয়ের ভাড়াটেদের, তাদের বাড়ির পুনর্বাসনের উপর কম নিয়ন্ত্রণ থাকতে পারে এবং ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত ব্যক্তিগত সম্পত্তি পুনরুদ্ধার করতে সক্ষম নাও হতে পারে।
Extreme rainfall flooding can limit how New Yorkers move around and their ability to participate in the economy. Extreme rainfall flooding can make some roads temporarily unpassable, limiting commutes, deliveries to businesses, and daily life. Given more dangerous road conditions, cars and buses can experience travel disruptions. Rain-driven flooding can also prevent residents from accessing parked vehicles and in public garages. Below-ground transportation including subway stations can flood.
Extreme rainfall can impair critical community infrastructure like schools, libraries, spaces for youth and senior services, and even cultural sites. New York’s immigrant communities face unique barriers. Twenty-five percent of New Yorkers who are not English-proficient and they may not receive emergency information that is culturally appropriate or in their language.
