Q&A
NYCEM's collaboration with DEP on drainage improvements and catch basin cleaning
0:17:27
ยท
73 sec
Council Member Ariola inquires about NYCEM's efforts to improve drainage and mitigate flood risk in areas prone to flash floods. Deputy Commissioner Heather Roiter explains NYCEM's collaboration with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on drainage improvements and catch basin cleaning.
- NYCEM has revamped its flash flood emergency plan to be risk-based
- Catch basin cleaning is a core strategy in flood mitigation efforts
- NYCEM works closely with DEP and updates their plan annually, focusing on targeted drainage areas
Joann Ariola
0:17:27
The first one is inadequate draining and significant contributing factors to localized inland flooding.
0:17:34
It's on that topic.
0:17:36
Does the city work to improve drainage, mitigate flood risk in areas that are historically prone to flash floods?
0:17:44
So do you work with DEP and other agencies to make sure that that that is taking place?
Heather Roiter
0:17:53
Yes.
0:17:53
And thank you for that response.
0:17:54
I'll answer that, specific question.
0:17:57
The how do we take drainage into account?
0:17:59
So as I mentioned, we've our flash flood plant our flash flood emergency plan, our most active plan, has gone through a large revamp to be risk based.
0:18:07
And so one of the core strategies, which it's always been, is the catch basin cleaning.
0:18:12
So that's really the targeted drainage areas that are known to be, high areas that need to remain open, during these flash flood events.
0:18:21
So DEP is a critical partner in our plan.
0:18:24
We work very closely with them, and we're committed to updating our plan annually.
0:18:28
And the main thing we look at is the catch basin cleaning targeted areas.
0:18:33
So that is, there's quite a lot of information that goes into helping create that assessment.
0:18:38
So our plan is, fresh with that information.