New York City is facing a troubling new reality: Flash floods struck twice in July alone, turning subway stations into waterfalls and streets into lakes. But the city is bouncing back thanks to smart engineering solutions that protect communities when extreme weather hits.
What’s happening?
Extreme rainstorms hammer the Northeast 60% more often than they did in the 1950s, and New York City’s infrastructure struggles to keep up. The city’s sewers handle 1.7 inches of rain per hour, but storms now dump up to 3 inches per hour for extended periods.
According to City & State, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority raised subway entrances to prevent water from cascading down staircases, with workers elevating sidewalk ventilation grates to stop street flooding from reaching the subway tracks below.
“A warmer environment means that there’s more moisture in the air,” said Zach Iscol, commissioner of New York City Emergency Management. “More moisture in the air means you have more rainfall, and it also means you have higher rates of rain.”…