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NYCHA Now
Flood panels at various developments
October 2021 

NYCHA Installs Flood Panels to Protect Developments from Heavy Rain

Michael Corwin

Since 2018, 16 NYCHA campuses have been outfitted with storm surge protection measures (over 8,200 deployable components at a total of 103 buildings). For the 2021 Hurricane season, NYCHA installed 3,700 deployable floodproofing panels at 67 buildings at 12 developments to protect them from flood risks, as part of the Authority’s Recovery and Resilience program. These panels protect critical building systems – as well as ground-floor community centers, maintenance offices, and apartments – from flooding damage due to coastal storms. 

NYCHA designed the flood panels based on Federal Emergency Management Agency requirements and NYC Department of Buildings code. The panels are put in place in advance of coastal storms. Most commonly, they prevent floodwater from entering the building completely. At a few sites, they allow water to enter and exit the building while protecting critical equipment and areas.

A total of 10,000 deployable elements (including panels, logs, stairs, and mullions) will be deployed at 26 developments. In the event of an approaching storm, those deployable elements will be put together to form comprehensive protection from flooding.