By Forum Staff
Anticipating coastal flooding, the City Emergency Management Department on Thursday placed parts of all five boroughs under a Travel Advisory from Thursday Sept. 19 through Monday, Sept. 23, to elevate their readiness levels.
The City said that offshore winds in combination with a full moon would result in higher-than-normal water levels near and along the coast during several high tide cycles through Monday. Minor flooding was expected Thursday night, with minor to locally moderate flooding likely Friday and Saturday. Additional rounds of minor coastal flooding would be possible Sunday and Monday, NYCEM noted.
In Watch and Warning areas, flood levels may rise to as high as 2 feet above normally dry ground. In Advisory areas, about 1 foot of flooding was expected. Flood may be widespread across low-lying areas near the shore. This included roads, parking lots, parks, and waterfront homes or businesses with basements. Numerous road closures were expected, and vehicles parked in vulnerable areas near the waterfront are at high risk of flooding. Flooding was also expected to extend inland from the waterfront along tidal rivers and bays. New Yorkers with vehicles in these areas are strongly urged to move them further inland to prevent damage.
On Thursday night, Coastal Flood Advisories were in effect for Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Southern Queens, with about 1 foot of flooding expected in normally dry areas. For Friday mid-day, Coastal Flood Warnings were in effect for South Queens and the Bronx, while advisories were in effect Brooklyn, Manhattan, North Queens, and Staten Island.
But seemingly the expected deluge turned out to be a whimper.
Regardless, whenever a travel advisory is in effect, NYCEM recommends the following preparedness actions for New Yorkers for those in coastal flood-prone regions and low-lying areas:
- Relocate parked vehicles to higher ground or inland, ensuring they do not obstruct roadways or block emergency access.
- Communication and Information: Before and during an emergency, the City will send emergency alerts through various channels, including Notify NYC, available in 13 different languages, with a special sub-group dedicated to Basement Apartment Dwellers. Subscribe to Notify NYC at NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, download the app in your phone’s app store, or dial 311. Keep a battery-powered radio ready for timely updates, particularly if power outages are expected.
- Gather Supplies: Every household member should have a Go Bag packed with essential items, such as bottled water, non-perishable food, and basic medical supplies.
- Tidal Awareness and Coastal Barriers: Monitor tide tables and storm surge forecasts. Know when high tides are expected in your vicinity and be prepared to adjust your plans. Where feasible, deploy sandbags or other deployables suitable for a residence to reduce the risk of tidal water intrusion.
- Watercraft and Boat Security: If you own boats or watercraft, secure or relocate them immediately. Fluctuating tides can not only carry them away but loose watercraft can cause additional damage.
- Storm Drains and Local Warnings: If it’s safe to do so, check and clear any nearby storm drains to help manage water runoff and lessen the chances of localized flooding. Pay attention to localized warnings, especially those pertaining to rip currents and high waves.
