Storm Coming: What Can You Do In 3 Hours

A quick list of things you can do within 3 hours to help reduce your risk of flooding.

Some are free, some you can buy or make it ala “MacGyver” method, and some are in coordination with NYC gov’t.

Table of Contents

• Storm Coming: What Can You Do In 3 Hours

  • 1) Clear Drains (15 min)

  • 2) Sign Up for Notify NYC (1 min)

  • 3) Raise Stuff (15 min)

  • 4) Unplug Stuff in Low-Level Apartments (5 min)

  • 5) “Go Bag” (10 min)

  • 6) Inexpensive Barriers (45 min)

    • The MacGyver method to home-made barriers:

  • 7) Sump Pump or Wet Vac (5 min)

  • 8 ) If Flooded, Take A Few Pics (2 min)

1) Clear Drains (15 min)

They often get covered with leaves / debris and can’t do their job.

YOUR DRAINS: usually there are two drains. Check the front and back of building. Especially important if you live in street level or basement apartment.

• Two parts: Clear the top of the drain AND UNDER THE TOP. Lift the lid if you can. Often there are two levels and you want BOTH to be open to accept water.

STREET DRAINS: we know it is not your job, but we want them to work. Check the ones at the top of your street and the bottom. You would help yourself and your neighbors.

• Careful: consider wearing gloves in case something sharp in there. Or use your feet or a broom to push it away to a place where water won’t just pull it back in.

• Report: You can and should report street drain blockages here. https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01084 or call 311. They will want to know specific street address, your contact info, and they allow for pictures (up to 3) file cannot be larger than 75MB so do pics vs videos.

2) Sign Up for Notify NYC (1 min)

Free. The City has more sophisticated weather predictions systems than you do on your phone. And they can alert certain neighborhoods when it is getting worse and special messages for basement apartments. Also, if something was really bad, tells you how to find city help or shelters. In 13 languages!

3) Raise Stuff (15 min)

With only a few hours, you have to prioritize what cannot get wet. If a few inches of water (or more) comes in, what could get badly damaged? Especially electronics, important papers, art work, family mementos. Maybe roll up the loose carpet now as it get super heavy when wet.

• Tip: Don’t have shelves or plastic bins? Put it up on chairs, tables, or crates.

• DIY shelves without tools

4) Unplug Stuff in Low-Level Apartments (5 min)

Flooding poses a real risk of electrocution and you can’t see it. So - after you have charged your phone - if you can unplug things before water gets there, do it.

• Renters: Only unplug your stuff. Do NOT unplug the building mechanicals. But tell the landlord if you are concerned.

5) “Go Bag” (10 min)

It might seem like a very remote possibility, but if you live in a basement or first floor apartment it can happen fast. If it looks heavy and if Notify NYC is warning you, get a “go bag” together with key items.

• Tip: you need more than just your phone and wallet, things like

• Medicine

• Cash

• Spare glasses

• A little dry food (and for your pet)

• Bottle of water

• Phone charger

• List of ideal “Go Bag” Items

6) Inexpensive Barriers (45 min)

Again, if you only have a few hours, there are inexpensive barriers - like $40-50 - that you can buy locally at many hardware stores that swell up when they get wet and close gaps. These can go in front of the door, or under the door itself (they are thin and flat when dry) and can seal up the area where water may seep in.

• Tip: find barriers that are right length: regular doorway should be 3 ft barrier, bigger doors, 5-10 foot barrier. You can’t cut them so you want right size. Check that.

The MacGyver method to home-made barriers:

Trash bags with plastic sheet

• You can make a makeshift bag barrier using trash bags, water, and wet towels.

• Put the towel in the bag (helps bag hold shape).

• Fill with some water until about a quarter full (DONT OVER fill it, they get heavy). Then tie them up.

• Put plastic sheeting or tarp down over bottom of door like a skirt.

• Then place your trash bags on the plastic in doorways to hold the plastic in place. Bags should spread out a bit. Stagger them so they overlap spaces.

• This should hold plastic.

  

  Like this, but trash bags with water cant be so full, too heavy

Door Gate

We know a very experienced person in Brooklyn who tried bags and eventually went with a home-made barrier.

• He made it from wood he had cut to width of the door and up about 3 feet.

• He has metal slots to slide it into place but you can screw it in if less time.

• Tip: you need to seal the edges with Gorilla Glue Tape (he swears by that).

7) Sump Pump or Wet Vac (5 min)

Test Your Sump Pump

If you already have a sump-pump, test that it works.

• Tip: The gaskets can dry out and machines can have other issues (why they say they should be replaced every 5-8 years). So go down there, pour some water in, and see if it kicks on.

• Or, if you cant add water easily, gently lift up the floating teether unit and then listen if the motor/pump kicks on…

Wet Vac

If you don’t have a sump-pump, a good wet vac is amazing. It may not stop the flooding but it can contain it. A wet vac can be used with a barrier on the floor to hold water in certain area while you suck it up.

• Tip: be careful with electric cord and it is not in the water.

• This one below maybe the best thing under $200 for a few reasons:

• 1) Holds 16 gallons (and you’d be surprised how much water there is even if 1 inch on your floor).

• 2) Has as a more powerful motor that can pull more quickly.

• 3) Strong handle on the back and bigger wheels, so when you are pushing or pulling a heavy wet vac with water inside to empty it, you have more leverage. 4) Also has a blower for drying.

• 5) This one was highly rated in NYT Wirecutter Wet Vac Review

8 ) If Flooded, Take A Few Pics (2 min)

• You might need them for showing your landlord, and/or or getting claims from insurance.

• Also good to see where water level goes up to on your walls so you know HOW HIGH to replace wall material (mold removal) if needed.

For more on other solutions when you have more time, check out The City Sponge and use the search bar on the home page to look up topics.