Torrential Rains Leave Messy Reminder Of Unsolved Post-Sandy Problems
Eighteen months after Hurricane Sandy, Lindenwood and Howard Beach residents found themselves underwater once again after last Wednesday’s (Apr. 30) torrential rainstorm overwhelmed local sewers and flooded streets and basements.
According to various sources, the flood zone was generally bounded by 149th and 156th avenues between 76th and 82nd streets. At the height of the flood, up to four feet of water reportedly inundated the area.
Deputy Inspector Jeffrey Schiff, commanding officer of the 106th Precinct, took to Twitter last Wednesday night to report water was “hip deep” on 78th Street between 155th and 156th avenues.
“We need waders!” he wrote, attaching with his post a photo of a parked car surrounded by water.
The New York City region was absolutely soaked last Wednesday, with 4.97 inches of rain reported in Central Park, making it the 10th highest daily total ever. John F. Kennedy Airport, located not too far from Howard Beach and Lindenwood, recorded 4.68 inches of rainfall, its fourth highest total.
Despite the waterlogged conditions, neither serious injuries nor major power outages were reported. The 106th Precinct, local Fire Department units and the American Red Cross quickly responded to the flood zone to secure the area and provide assistance to affected residents.
Once the water receded, Con Edison and National Grid dispatched crews to the area to inspect equipment and make sure homes did not suffer major damage to their gas and electric equipment.
Damages were limited to flooded basements and lost property, and area residents-as they had in the wake of flooding from Hurricane Sandy in 2012-found themselves removing flood-damaged debris out of their homes and basements. The Sanitation Department held special collections in the neighborhoods to remove debris left on curbsides.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) also sent crews to the area to inspect and clean out catch basins and underground mains.
While the cause remains under investigation, elected officials pointed to sewer infrastructure failures as the primary culprit.
“[Hurricane] Sandy should have been a call to action to invest in our aging sewer infrastructure and yet, families will have to suffer with more losses and another painful recovery,” Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder said. “Once again, it took a major storm to demonstrate that our infrastructure is not prepared to deal with rising flood waters. I will continue to work with every agency to ensure our families have the peace of mind they deserve.”
“When Lindenwood gets more water than Hamilton Beach and other parts of Howard Beach and Broad Channel, you know something is wrong,” added State Sen. Joseph Addabbo. “I urge all governmental agencies, specifically [the] DEP, to quickly find out what went wrong and how it’s going to be fixed.”
“My people have suffered enough financially and emotionally since Sandy and deserve to have this issue addressed as soon as possible,” he concluded.
