NEW YORKERS! SHARE YOUR FLOOD STORY WITH RAINPROOF NYC
The Rainproof NYC Flood Map documents where New Yorkers experience flooding, adding community knowledge to official flood data.
Your story = proof = power = solutions
The Rainproof NYC Flood Map documents community knowledge and experience by publishing New Yorkers’ flood stories.
The map combines submitted personal stories with official public data, including 311 reports since Hurricane Ida, FloodNet Sensors, and City-led built and in-progress green infrastructure, to build a comprehensive public database of our shared experience.
The Rainproof NYC Flood Map was made in collaboration with the Rainproof Your Community initiative’s partners: Brooklyn Level Up, Nonprofit Staten Island, Rainproof Flatbush, SQREJC, The City Sponge, The Dear Neighbor Project.
How Can I Share My Story?
- Click the button below.
- Click the “Share your Story” button or select a location on the map.
- Add a story of your Flooding experience, Action, and/or Idea.
- Upload a photo, a video documenting the experience, and/or record audio of your story.
Why Should I Share My Story? Official data only capture a portion of what happens. Stories of lived experiences fill in the gaps that data misses. Collecting community stories helps create proof that elected officials and city agencies can’t ignore.
Data findings FOR NYC FLOODING 2021–2026
434 flood sensors: DEEPEST WATER at 46.1 INCHES
From the 434 flood sensors throughout the city, the highest recorded depth of floodwaters, at 46.1 inches, was located at 183rd St / 90th Ave in Queens, on May 20th, 2026. Within half a mile, there have been 609 reports to 311 for flooding.
113,481 311 Flood Reports
New Yorkers made 113,481 flood reports to 311 in the five years since Hurricane Ida.
49.2% WERE SEWER BACKUPS
Nearly half the reports, 55,791 (49.2%), were sewer backups, followed by clogged storm drains at 35,348 (31.1%) reports, water in the street at 17,313 (15.3%) reports, and water in basements at 5,029 (4.4%) reports.
7,250 REPORTS IN QUEENS CB 12
Queens Community District 12 has had 7,250 flood reports to 311, the highest of any board in the city.
5,579 Reports in Staten Island CD 50
Council District 50 (Staten Island) has had 5,579 flood reports to 311, the highest of any district in the city.
25x MORE REPORTS IN STATEN ISLAND
The highest concentration of 311 reports are from Staten Island. There are 25 times more reports per 1,000 residents.
More About the Map
The Rainproof NYC Flood Map combines personal narrative with publicly available flood data to create a more comprehensive picture of the extent of flood impacts across NYC. Beyond sharing your story, you can:
- Toggle between map layers to see where 311 reports and flood sensors have recorded flooding
- Click anywhere on the map or search your address to see how heavy rainfall has impacted the area within a 10-minute walk (half-mile).
- Click on a raindrop to read a New Yorker’s story.
- Share your own story, and attach any photos, videos, audio, or files to support your story.
“Flooding”: Your experience during a rain event in NYC — what happened, where, and what it was like. A puddle in your hallway counts. A flooded basement counts. Watching your neighbor’s belongings piled on the curb the morning after counts.
“Action”: Anything you or your community has done to prepare for, respond to, or recover from flooding — before, during, or after an event.
- Examples: installing a sump pump or drainage, adding green infrastructure, signing up for flood alerts, organizing a catch-basin clean-up, strengthening the social infrastructure on your block, or advocating for green infrastructure funding in a policy or budget bill. Rainproof NYC understands that everyone has a role to play, so every action counts.
“Idea”: What you think should happen next — a solution, project, or approach you’d want to see, even if no one has built it yet.
What if my story is more than one of these? Pick the category that fits the heart of the story, or submit more than one pin. There’s no wrong answer.
Yes. You can type your address or neighborhood into the search bar, or zoom straight to your block.
You choose how your name appears, or whether it appears at all. Private contact details are never shown publicly or shared with third parties.
Rebuild by Design reviews all stories before they are published publicly.
Yes. You can reach out to us by email at info@rebuildbydesign.org.
Rainproof NYC is Rebuild by Design’s citywide initiative to help New York live with increasingly heavy rain. Since 2021, we’ve combined research, global inspiration, and hands-on collaboration to transform NYC into a sponge. The network brings together community groups, city officials, technical experts, policy advocates, private sector partners, and educators — everyone has a role to play. To learn more, visit rainproof.nyc.
What can I do after I share my story?
Tell A Friend
Take Action
Connect
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JOIN THE MOVEMENT: GET INVOLVED IN RAINPROOF NYC
We each have a role to play in Rainproof.
Rainproof NYC is where all stakeholders learn from each other and act collectively to tackle increasingly heavy rainfall and flash floods.The growing Rainproof NYC network brings together community groups, city officials, technical experts, policy advocates, private sector partners, educators, and more to understand and address flooding in NYC.
Ways you can get involved include:
- Stay updated on new pilot projects, events, and funding opportunities.
- Collaborate with the Rainproof NYC Network.
- Join a Rainproof Event.
- Learn from other cities in our Rainproof Series.
- Participate in or Pilot Rainproof NYC Projects.
- Share Rainproof Resources & Expertise.