REMARKS
Differences between coastal flood risk and flash flood risk
0:23:15
ยท
99 sec
Deputy Commissioner Heather Roiter explains the key differences between coastal flood risk and flash flood risk, highlighting the challenges in planning for flash flood events.
- Coastal flood risk areas are well-defined with evacuation zones and can be predicted days in advance
- Flash flooding is more unpredictable and can affect a broader area of the city
- The forecast for flash flooding is typically on a larger scale and less precise
- Areas of greatest impact during a flash flood event are often only known during or immediately before the storm
- NYCEM works with public safety partners to utilize their facilities and communicate safe locations during emergencies
Heather Roiter
0:23:15
So maybe, just to also step back and talk about flood risk.
0:23:19
So it's also, I think, really important to understand, coastal flood risk versus flash flood risk.
0:23:24
We have done quite a lot, obviously, over many years to communicate our evacuation zones and areas, predicted to have coastal flood risk, which also come with forecast that can be days out and give us ample opportunity to stand up the operations in anticipation of the response.
0:23:40
Flash flooding, it's a it's a different animal in terms of the weather and the variability and the meteorological tools.
0:23:47
So I just wanna preface that ability to say, we have done an extreme amount of work on our coastal storm planning to have pre identified sites and socialize and communicate and make that information, available for knowing your risk and your and your zone.
0:24:03
With low lying coastal flood area or flood areas vulnerable to inland flooding, it can affect citywide.
0:24:11
It has a much broader scale, and the forecast is also going to be much larger scale in anticipation.
0:24:17
So knowing in that storm where the area of greatest impact will be will be in it or right at the heels of the storm when that's happening.
0:24:27
So I just you know, in terms of just thinking through, or kind of relaying the challenges, I just wanted to clear that.
0:24:35
So in terms but we do work with all of our public safety partners and making sure that we can, utilize and work with them in a in a emergency.
0:24:44
And if it's also communicating, sites that are we know that are gonna be, open to the public for a safe place or a safe haven during an emergency, we do we will do that as well.