Queens Flooding
October 11th, 2007
The flooding on August 8th that shut down most of the subway also flooded residents of Queens who were still recovering from an earlier flood in June. Why is Queens so prone to flooding, and what can be done about it? That’s what the Queens Tribune sought to find out in a recent four part series.
Many parts of Queens can only handle 1.5 inches, which is below the national standard of 1.75, the Tribune writes. On top of that, the report adds that in much of the area, the ground elevation is very low and there are no storm sewers.
A variety of solutions have been offered by officials as outlined in the series:
Some of the worst experiences of the floods came when sewage started to come up from residents toilets and sinks. To stop overflows from being forced back into homes, state legislators have introduced bills that would offer up to $1000 in tax credits for the installation of check valves, which keep water from coming up.
The Department of City Planning has also begun proposing measures that would keep storm water out of sewers in the first place by mandating that yards and parking lots include greenery which will absorb rainwater. And the city’s Department of Environmental Protection has committed $2.8 billion towards rebuilding sewer systems and is in the process of deciding where to invest it.
By Mike Muller on October 11, 2007, 5:00 amIn category: Community Development, Environment, Land Use | No Comments »



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