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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Cloudburst management projects in New York City
0:23:13
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96 sec
Deputy Commissioner Licata explains the concept of Cloudburst management projects, which are designed to capture stormwater during sudden heavy downpours to prevent flooding and overburdening of the sewer system. These projects often feature community amenities that can be used by the public on dry days.
- An example project at NYCHA's South Jamaica Houses includes a sunken basketball court that will absorb and divert stormwater during future storms.
- Cloudburst projects are generally designed for multi-block areas and can be implemented more quickly than larger nature-based solutions.
- These projects require close coordination with various city departments, including Parks, Transportation, Education, School Construction Authority, and NYCHA.
Angela Licata
0:23:13
A cloudburst is a sudden heavy downpour in a short amount of time.
0:23:17
Cloudbursts can overburden the sewer system and cause flooding.
0:23:21
Cloudburst management systems capture stormwater until the sewers can handle the flow.
0:23:26
Cloudburst management projects often feature special community amenities and open spaces that can be used by the public on dry days.
0:23:35
For example, the Cloudburst project designed for NYCHA's South Jamaica Houses is a sunken basketball court that will absorb and divert stormwater during future storms.
0:23:46
Most days, the basketball court will provide recreation for residents.
0:23:51
During cloudburst events, the storm will intentionally be diverted to the court, which will hold the water safely until the rain event is over, taking that rainwater off the street and out of the sewers.
0:24:03
Sewers.
0:24:04
We've provided some pictures of that for you in the testimony.
0:24:07
Clabbers Harb's are large scale cloudburst projects generally designed for a multi block area where directing, collecting, storing, and transferring stormwater can have a meaningful benefit on localized flood attenuation and the added benefit of CSO reduction.
0:24:23
We use existing land and retrofit public spaces to allow for more enhanced stormwater management.
0:24:29
These can be implemented more quickly than larger nature based solutions that may rely on identification of vacant lands or property acquisition.
0:24:38
These projects require close coordination with our colleagues at Parks Department, at Transportation, at Department of Education, School Construction Authority, and of course, NACHA.