WEATHER

NYC's flood management plan marks milestone on Staten Island 11 years after Sandy

Monday, October 30, 2023

NYC's flood management plan marks milestone 11 years after Sandy

Mayor Adams and elected officials celebrated the latest completion in the city's Bluebelt program on Staten Island Monday.

MID-ISLAND, Staten Island (WABC) -- Monday marks eleven years since Superstorm Sandy hit the Tri-State area.

The storm plowed its way inland, devastating parts of the region with widespread flooding and power outages.

To mark the day, New York City Mayor Eric Adams joined elected officials on Staten Island to announce the completion of another phase of a program that uses green space to improve storm drainage and ease flooding during major rainfall events.

The city's Bluebelt program handles the runoff precipitation that falls onto streets and sidewalks and provide open green spaces for communities and provide a habitat for local wildlife.

The program began in 1990s on Staten Island and has been expanded to include the Bronx and Queens.

The mayor announced Monday the completion of the third phase of a $110 million program on Staten Island impacting the Mid-Island section.

Mid-Island's New Creek Bluebelt now covers 94 acres and drains a 2,249-acre watershed area, protecting it from flooding, and fortifying surrounding communities against climate change-driven extreme weather events.

Superstorm Sandy storm is blamed for at least 182 deaths in the U.S., including 44 in New York and 24 on Staten Island alone.

Sandy remains the costliest natural disaster ever to hit New York.