What Can We Do in Queens?

Flooding issues exist across NYC, so we were asked to take the “Flood Solutions Fair” approach - where people come to ask their flooding questions to experts for both their place and their community - and bring it to Western Queens.

So that’s why hundreds showed up a sunny day in September (Sept/Oct is when worst flooding has hit NYC)…including renters, small businesses, homeowners, building managers, local trades experts, community groups, and gov’t leaders from city, state, and federal levels.

Flood Solutions Fair Queens Sept 2025

Finding your flooding solution means doing the research and planning, even on the sunny dry days before more water arrives. That’s when you want to get your plan.

Questions: From Basement to Broader Community

Getting Mix of Local Experts in One Room

That one-room in Queens was Sunnyside Community Services where people got flooding help on many levels and in a few ways:

Talking to experts at tables about their place…

Hearing from local gov’t, policy, trades, tenants….

Getting a big picture view from across the city…

And the country…

People not only learned about where flood risk is higher by block and street, but ALSO where there are funding sources available for mitigation work. Because you don’t just want to freak out, you want to implement a solution to reduce future costs …and future anxiety every time it rains.

Being in one room where everyone is trying to help each other creates a good vibe. So while people came for flood tips, many said they left with a sense of community. 😅

Water connects us...during flooding, and in finding solutions.

Solutions

Here is a basic recap with some highlights, including some links to organizations who were helpful. (For event program / flyer, click here)

From $20, to $2K, to $20K…or $200M (city upgrades)

People ask: What are my options and how much do they cost?

The answers vary, depending on your location, are you an owner or renter, the amount of hard surfaces around you, your elevation and current drainage system, the size and layout of your place, and even the soil type under your place.

At the fair, people could see many options:

• The “Basement Apartment Help Desk” featured a special Notify NYC text alert system for basement apt renters available in 14 languages from NYC Emergency Mgmt (free), tenants rights information from Chhaya (free), as well as water-inflating barriers from QuickDam (under $30) which can stop water coming under the doorways.

• Next to that (by design) was the “Insurance Options” desk from Insure Before to help understand when and where FEMA flood insurance is required, the differences between that and private insurance options. Details on new types of options like parametric insurance which automatically pays out when storms of a certain size happen (…and no proof of damage required). And what renters can and should get to protect their belongings (which landlords are not responsible for) and pay for living expenses if forced out due to floods. More on insurance here.

• Nearby was The City Sponge table who helped organize the event but was also sharing FloodChat which is a new customized chatbot for 2.3M NYC renters, including tips on how to work with landlord, the laws, the various cheaper options and local solutions, in 40 languages. Now being tested (if you want to try it out, email us)

• At the “Landscape Drainage” table with Field Form, how to use your outside area with green solutions for better drainage and retention, while also beautifying your landscape. Nearby was the “Masonry” table with Sunnyside Masonry on how to optimize hard surfaces, be it stone, pavers, porous pavement…or even change the grade of your patio to slope water away from your place. Gardens and stone can work well together to keep flooding out.

• The “Real Estate Law” table from Antell Law to help people navigate their legal rights regarding condo/coop boards, landlord/tenant issues, or homeowner disputes (see Right To Know law). And next door was the “Plumbing” table with Non Stop Plumbers to ask questions on pumps, sewer connections, and back flow valves for low level fixtures. Sometimes you need BOTH.

  

  Antell Law and NonStop Plumbers: How Use Legal Tools? How Does A Back-Flow Valve Work?

• The “Basement Sealing” table answered questions about filling cracks in basement or closing soil gaps where water can come enter by LJS Waterproofing.

• At the “Barriers” table, control tubes and larger aluminum systems that can retract and expand when needed suited for bigger / commercial buildings from Garrison Flood Control.

• Ways to get money to pay for mitigation work through a state program called “Resilient Retrofits” - can be used to raise electrical systems to avoid flood damage, install energy-efficient appliances, and make other important upgrades - by Center for NYC Neighborhoods. Along with Waterfront Alliance to answer questions about important state and city policies for resilience, flood mitigation and the status of proposed legislation.

• The “Small Business Help” table from LIC Partnership and NYC Small Business Services who have grants up to $5K for mitigation work to prevent flooding. The money goes to the business as opposed to the landlord.

• Many “Community Groups” tables were there to add context and expand the thinking, connecting the dots between what is happening in people’s homes and what is happening in their community.

• Too many to show, but one example is Councilor Julie Won and her team who were there to hear people’s needs and discuss how flooding connects to housing, zoning, and leveraging city resources.

   

  

  Councilor Julie Won’s Team

Community Discussions

• We also held community discussion panels between neighbors, trades, policy experts and elected officials. The idea was to to help people do the mitigation work they need. Because flooding doesn’t have one-silver bullet solution, we wanted across section of people who can help: from plumbing to policy, from basements to broader community.

• Both discussions were focussed on one central question from Rebuild By Design Rainproof NYC: “How can we incentivize ALL New Yorkers to take ownership of flood proofing their assets for the (greater) good of NYC?”

• We could see how different groups looked at the same problem from different angles, like DEP Queens Commissioner Alfonso Lopez. The DEP is often blamed for any flooding problems; they are expanding the capacity of our old sewer system as well as re-directing water to safer spaces. But they cannot do everywhere all at once, nor can they do it alone. Expected water levels projected for NYC will require more solutions beyond what the DEP can do. So we have to do things without just waiting for the DEP. Others chimed in on other ways to help: a micro-mitigation help desk, hyper local “flood club” block solutions, easier green infrastructure installations, better flood reporting via 311 or other new platforms, and financial counseling for the work needed.

• And while one answer doesn’t solve it all, these panels helped show influential people what gaps exist. They also led to follow-on conversations between important voices, like between housing rights group Chhaya and the Mayor’s Office of Climate Environmental Justice Commissioner Elijah Hutchinson.

🎥 To Watch Panel Discussions, Click Here (Facebook)

Deeper Dives and Visuals

During the panels (and some tables), there were various deeper dives into what is happening in the area on the ground and in policy circles:

• Legislation and advocacy from Rep. Nydia Velazquez who just recently unveiled a package of five bills to strengthen disaster response, reform flood insurance, and stop price gouging during emergencies. More here:

• Longer term, Velazquez has been an advocate for the Army Corps HATS project (pictured below), and a CSO review for the area (pictured below), and getting federal appropriations request for Stormwater Green Infrastructure in Sunnyside/Woodside/LIC which leverages DEP and matching in city budget.

  

  Funding for HATS Study of Newtown Creek Area

   

• Attendees also learned about compound flooding, showing stormwater + coastal + groundwater on ONE map from Field Form showing hyper local detail.

• Newtown Creek Alliance shared plans for the watershed with a strategy that leverages natural solutions, gray infrastructure and MORE public access. As proven in Gowanus, BK and Hoboken NJ, this is very popular with area communities.

• Comptroller Lander referenced the Flooding Preparedness Report which follows up on the bigger steps the city agreed to do AFTER Hurricane Sandy: what is being done and what is still to do? A great report!

To Sum It Up…Water Connects Us

Those are some of the many highlights…thank you again for hosting Sunnyside Community Services team and being a true community center!

Appreciation and Shout Outs To..