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Hurricane Ida – Mitigation and Preparedness for Flash-Flooding in New York City

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 December 2024

Lisa Feit ,
Donald Doukas  and
Mark Silverberg
Lisa Feit*
Affiliation:
Departments of Emergency Medicine, Kings County Hospital and SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Donald Doukas
Affiliation:
Departments of Emergency Medicine, Kings County Hospital and SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Mark Silverberg
Affiliation:
Departments of Emergency Medicine, Kings County Hospital and SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
*
Corresponding author: Lisa Feit; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objectives

Hurricane Ida delivered record rainfall to the northeast, resulting in 11 deaths in New York City. We review these deaths, identify risk factors, and discuss solutions to prevent recurrence.

Methods

Deaths were confirmed by multiple sources. Locations of the deceased were obtained from obituaries and plotted on the NYC.gov flood-hazard map. Risk factor information of the decedents was collected when available. Current emergency response plans and mitigation efforts were identified on the NYC.gov officially sanctioned website.

Results

All descendants resided in basement apartments. None of the deaths occurred in a location previously designated a “flood risk zone.” While a flash flood emergency was issued during Hurricane Ida, guidance was not provided during the emergency. Flooding was compounded by the city’s aging infrastructure and lack of green space.

Conclusions

Aging infrastructure, lack of pre-notification, illegal basement apartments, and lack of a planned response all appear to have played a role in these 11 deaths.

Keywords

floodingflash floodHurricane Idaflood related deathsflood mitigation
Type
Brief Report
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 18 , 2024 , e314
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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