Coastal Surge Flooding

Impacts of Coastal Storm Surge

Coastal storms can severely damage New Yorkers’ homes and personal belongings. Repairing damages to a home, including mechanical systems and plumbing or replacing belongings, can be costly and place financial strain on homeowners, renters, and businesses, and especially on low-income households that may already be struggling. FEMA estimates that 1 inch of water can cause as much as $25,000 in damages.

Coastal surge flooding can also impair critical community facilities like schools, libraries, spaces for youth and senior services, and cultural sites. These spaces serve as support centers during and after storms. Coastal surge flooding can disrupt and damage critical infrastructure ranging from energy and to wastewater treatment plants. Critical facilities, infrastructure, and services may be inaccessible to residents during or after a coastal surge event due to damage and potential power outages.

Coastal storm surge flooding not only directly impacts the public health and lives of people, homes and businesses in the floodplain but cascading impacts from the flooding can impact critical city infrastructure—such as power plants, hospitals, or transportation networks—in surrounding areas. These impacts can interfere with people’s ability to move around the city before, during, and after coastal storms.

Areas Vulnerable to Coastal Surge Flooding

The populations most at risk to current and future coastal storm surge flooding are those who live in the floodplain. Southern Brooklyn and Queens are expected to experience the greatest increases in future flood risk. In addition, those who have been excluded or marginalized based on their race, income or ability are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate impacts including coastal flooding. Residents who live in older, less-resilient housing face greater risks. Older New Yorkers and those with limited mobility are the most susceptible to these coastal storm-related injuries and fatalities. Close to half of all residents who died during Superstorm Sandy were over 65 years old. More data on flood vulnerability will be coming out later in 2023.

NYC Flood Hazard Mapper

A product of the New York City Department of City Planning, the NYC Flood Hazard Mapper provides a comprehensive overview of the coastal flood hazards that threaten the city today, as well as how these flood hazards are likely to increase in the future with climate change. It is intended to enable more informed decision-making by residents, property and business owners, architects and engineers, and policy-makers.