Climate Resiliency

Cloudburst Management

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rendering of cloudburst hub subsurface infrastructure
Rendering of cloudburst hub infrastructure

A “cloudburst” is a sudden, heavy downpour where a lot of rain falls in a short amount of time. Cloudburst management implements a combination of methods that absorb, store, and transfer stormwater to minimize flooding from cloudburst events. Using grey infrastructure, like sewer pipes and underground storage tanks, and Green Infrastructure, like trees and Rain Gardens, cloudburst management can minimize damage to property and infrastructure by reducing strain on the Sewer System.

Program Timeline

  • Through a partnership with the City of Copenhagen, DEP published a Cloudburst Resiliency and Planning Study in 2017.
  • In January 2023 the Mayor and DEP announced four initial Cloudburst Hubs: Corona and Kissena Park, Queens, Parkchester/Morris Park, Bronx, and East New York, Brooklyn.
  • In 2025, DEP completed construction of its first cloudburst site-specific pilot project at the NYC Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) South Jamaica Houses.
rendering of cloudburst hub subsurface infrastructure
This basketball court at the South Jamaica Houses is designed to fill with water during extreme rainfall events.

Site-Specific Projects

Cloudburst “Site-Specific Projects” are smaller-scale and feature a network of stormwater management tools that work together to alleviate flooding and help to make connected sites and streets more resilient during intense rainstorms. Examples include:

DEP has also begun to implement several other cloudburst site-specific projects including: Clinton Houses in East Harlem, Manhattan; St. Albans/Addisleigh Park, Queens; and McCarren Park, Brooklyn.

Hubs

Cloudburst “Hubs” are identified at the sub-catchment scale, which are hydraulically connected areas based on the sewer network. They feature a network of stormwater management tools that work together to alleviate flooding and help to make neighborhoods more resilient during intense rainstorms.

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Cloudburst Hub Neighborhoods

Corona

DEP is advancing design of the Cloudburst Hub project in Corona, Queens that will incorporate initial outreach feedback. If you would like to learn about future events and opportunities to get involved, visit Newsletters and subscribe to the “DEP Cloudburst Corona” email list.

Download the Corona Hub Factsheet in: English, Español.

Download the Corona Hub Outreach Summary: English

Survey

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Previous Presentations

  • Download the Corona Cloudburst Hub—60% Design Community Update Presentation, June 16, 2025 in: English, Español; or view on YouTube.
  • Download the Community Board 3 Presentation, June 20, 2024 in: English.

Kissena

DEP is advancing design of the Cloudburst Hub project in Kissena, Queens that will incorporate initial outreach feedback. Preliminary designs will be presented to the community in Fall 2025. If you would like to learn about future events and opportunities to get involved, visit Newsletters and subscribe to the “DEP Cloudburst Kissena” email list.

Download the Kissena Hub Factsheet in: English, Español.

Download the Kissena Hub Outreach Summary in: English.

Survey

We are accepting input on signage options in this hub, please submit your feedback by taking this quick Signage Survey.

Previous Presentations

Parkchester/Morris Park

DEP is advancing design of the Cloudburst Hub project in Parkchester/Morris Park, Bronx that will incorporate initial outreach feedback. If you would like to learn about future events and opportunities to get involved, visit Newsletters and subscribe to the “DEP Cloudburst Parkchester/Morris Park” email list.

Download the Parkchester/Morris Park Hub Factsheet in: English, Español, বাংলা.

Download the Parkchester/Morris Park Hub Outreach Summary: English.

Survey

We are accepting input on signage options in this hub, please submit your feedback by taking this quick Signage Survey.

Previous Presentations

  • Download the Parkchester & Morris Park Cloudburst Hub—60% Design Community Update Presentation, June 5, 2025 in: English, Español, বাংলা; or view on YouTube.
  • Download the Community Board 9 & 11 Presentation, April 10, 2024 in: English.

East New York (Hendrix Linden)

DEP is advancing design of the Cloudburst Hub project in East New York, Brooklyn that will incorporate initial outreach feedback. If you would like to learn about future events and opportunities to get involved, visit Newsletters and subscribe to the “DEP Cloudburst East New York” email list.

Download the East New York Hub Factsheet in: English, Español.

Download the East New York Hub Outreach Summary in: English.

Survey

We are accepting input on signage options in this hub, please submit your feedback by taking this quick Signage Survey.

Previous Presentations

  • Download the East New York Cloudburst Hub—60% Design Community Update Presentation, August 12, 2025 in: English or Español; or view on YouTube; o escuchar en español en SoundCloud.
  • Download the East New York Community Presentation, May 13, 2024 in: English, Español.

Brownsville South

The NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) is advancing design of the Cloudburst Hub project in Brownsville South, Brooklyn.

  • Download the Brownsville Hub Factsheet in: English.
  • Download the Community Board 16 Presentation in: English.

Homecrest

Design for the Homecrest Cloudburst Hub is forthcoming.

Download the Homecrest Hub Factsheet in: English.

Flood Prevention

There’s actually a lot New Yorkers can do to protect our City from flooding.

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Rainfall Ready NYC

A plan to prepare the city government and New Yorkers for more extreme rainfall in the future

Increasing Stormwater Resilience

Our long term vision in the face of climate change.