Water / Sewer PLUS

Another flood with Harvey rain rain today

We experienced heavy tropical rain on 08/22/21. Our home is located in sort of a dip on Virginia Ave. During heavy rain, the 2 storm drains/ sewer on the street in front of the house are inadequate to handle the incoming water flow from both sides of the street. Therefore, over the last 15 years water accumulates during heavy rain in front of the house up to about 5 feet. This past Sunday (08/22/21), the extreme rain and the surge of waterflow from both sides of the street flooded the area in front of the house. Over 6 feet of water accumulated and came over the retaining wall into the basement. Our tenants were trapped inside the basement that has an outdoor walk-out and were unable to open the storm door and the inside door due to the influx of water. Over 3 feet of water surged into the basement from the street. I was able to break the storm door with a hammer and the inside door then rescue the elderly disabled tenants. I had called emergency services, but the FDNY only showed up 2 hours after the initial call.
Over the past 15 years we have claimed total loss on 3 cars in addition to the surrounding neighbors. This past Sunday one of our vehicles were lost again due to the flooding. We have contacted 311 and Environmental Protection over the last 10 years whom have done nothing at all to mitigate this issue. EPA responded 2 days after and informed us that absolutely nothing will be done for future mitigation. This past Sunday we suffered $20,000 to $50,000 worth of damages. The home insurance is not covering any damages as the flood was caused by inadequate storm drains/ sewer on the street which lead to over 6 feet of water accumulating in front of the house (please see the attached pictures of the residence).
We cannot reside in the area if the City of New York does not engineer a solution for this issue as it has been occurring for over 15 years. Our lives and livelihood are always at risk due to the inaction of the City officials and incompetence by the responsible parties.

I have two 4 year old children. I have to load the kids up in the street to avoid the lake in my driveway. When is someone going to do something about the drainage problem in midland beach. We almost got hit by a car this morning. I will continue to call 311 but we are getting np answers and I keep hearing about the storm drains running into the bluebelt but we need action now. Thanks

Rain water flows from 3 directions and fills up floods the cars and house on the block
The lates hurricane flooded 5 houses and cars displaced residents out of their homes
American Red Cross places people in shelters and hotels no FEMA assistance given at all
DEP request with 311 was denied to fix the water drain.

Water flooding parking lot and street. Sewer is blocked by debris as well

please clean the sanitary sewers on the corner of Perry Avenue and South Gannon Avenue. one is on Perry in front of the home 171 Perry Avenue the other is on South Gannon next to the home at 171 Perry Avenue . I have attached photos showing that these drains are no longer accepting water because they are full . thank you

On July 9 2021 flash floods and heavy rain caused flooding in my basement. 311 was called at 11:00 pm and was supposed to respond in six hours but responded 3 days later on July 12 (service request # 311089419 and cleaned out all sewers and basins On July 14th at 12:30pm a utility locating and mapping truck arrived to take pictures to see under the sidewalk in front of my Windsor road house We are fearful of a collapse of sidewalk (there are two schools within two blocks of this location) since waters blow off the man hole cover and the catch basin doesn’t drain properly and creates a geyser of water shooting out Heavy rain leaves ponding , flooding , and poor drainage A 311 service request # 311094554 was made about the defective catch basin and DOT came and inspected it and said DEP needs to address this issue and will be reinspected in sixty days Today July 28 DEP came and poured black pavement around the catch basin in front of the defective catch basin. I asked if they saw camera results of under the sidewalk and they said no
I have been aware for many years that there are NO storm sewers in this intersection and the flooding and damage in my home will never end

Storm drain clogged with debris.

Dear Mr. Boro President,
My name is John Surowiec. My wife and I live at 271 Montreal Ave with our two small children. We have been here 6 years this October. Our house is located at the corner of Montreal ave and Platt.
We love our neighborhood, however, over the course of the past 6 years we have dealt with a massive amount of storm water coming down our street and over the corner cap and curbs, or lack there of curbs, and down our sidewalk. Most of the time it’s like a river coming down our block and sidewalk. Most days when it rains and during the winter after snow melt it constantly happens. I have to wear knee high water boots to get my children on and off the bus those days and to get to my car parked in the street. Some days the water is over the bumper of my minivan, I’m sure that’s not good for it.
It is extremely dangerous during the winter when the water refreezes in the street and on the sidewalk. Especially If I don’t have time to create a path through the snow in the street and down the block for the water to travel and drain. Not to mention the salt that travels down the sidewalk with the melting snow from the street that’s ruining my sidewalk.
The main problem here is we do not have a storm drain on our corner to help with the amount of water draining here. The storm drain is located down the block on Hylan blvd. The way the area streets are pitched to drain the water, our corner collects water from almost ever block in the area and then it filters down the street to the Hylan blvd storm drain. The conversion of all this water at our corner causes the issues we’re dealing with.
On school and work days we get a lot of traffic traveling up and down our block and along Platt street. A lot of time using the blocks as a cut through, going over the speed limit to beat the lights on Hylan blvd. Platt has no stop signs or speed bumps from Guyon ave to Chesterton, but that’s another issue to which the DOT has done nothing about. To get to the point, the ponding and pooling of the water makes it dangerous from drivers and pedestrians here. Theirs families and people that walk to and from school, PS50 is on Platt and Adelaide, and work, the train is on Guyon and the railroad. Sometimes walking in the street to avoid getting soaked. I know my children and I will be doing so when they start PS50 this fall.
Over the last five and a half years I have requested a storm drain twice with Councilman Matteo. Both times his office has responded back to me saying they would reach out to the proper channels to help. I greatly appreciate his help. However, that is the extent of the request, I here nothing further after on this issue. Wether the DEP doesn’t look into it or they do not think it’s feasible to do, I get no other response. Maybe a storm drain is not feasible, maybe the DOT can come fix the low lying corner cap and raise the curb where the water seems to be going over and then coming down the sidewalk. I see their putting new curbs all along Father Capp and widening the street one foot for no apparent reason everyday.
Maybe I’m the only one with cause for concern and cause to request because I live here. I have to see and deal with it all the time. The passerby, the driver, it doesn’t effect them the same way. It’s a few seconds of their time and then it’s over. Even other neighbors that live on my block. Once the water gets 2 or 3 house pass me they do not have the same issues, the surge is over and it flows differently. Whatever it is some form of action needs to be taken.
I am a city employee, a tax payer, a voter, a concerned father, husband and resident. I pay enough in property tax that something like this should not to be a issue. I hope you can help solve this problem. Even if it is a easy solution as raising the curb at the corner to keep the water in the street.
I have plenty more pictures I can send. I also have video if you’d like to see.
I have sent this email and have been in correspondence with Mr. Matteo and Rose from his office. I’ve explained in detail the situation to her, they will be reaching out to the proper departments once again for help and answers. I’m reaching out to you for help as well. The more people working together to solve this problem the better.
Thank you for you time,
John Surowiec.

Severe flooding occurred again today (09/01/21) due to inadequate sewer/ storm drains on the street. The only 2 drains are inadequate to handle the influx of water from both sides of the street. Just hours ago over 6 ft of water accumulated and flooded into our basement destroying everything on site. We experience this only a week and 3 days ago on 08/22/21. Multiple vehicles were lost, we’ve been experiencing this issue for the last 15 years. Within a week and half we were faced with 2 floods due to the 2 storm drains being over taxed. We currently have no hot water or utilities. I have a 97 year old mother and a husband that is a dialysis patient living in this home.

Center St and Kensico Ave. Newly paved street, had rain this morning and puddles by a school. Children will have to jump over the water to cross the street. What will happen in the winter when water freezes?