File #: Int 0807-2024    Version: Name: Flash flood preparedness outreach and evacuation guidance.
Type: Introduction Status: Enacted (Mayor's Desk for Signature)
Committee: Committee on Fire and Emergency Management
On agenda: 4/18/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A local law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to flash flood preparedness outreach and evacuation guidance
Sponsors: Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, James F. Gennaro, Justin L. Brannan, Farah N. Louis, Kevin C. Riley, Shahana K. Hanif, Nantasha M. Williams, Tiffany Cabán, Lynn C. Schulman, Mercedes Narcisse, Carmen N. De La Rosa, Julie Won, Kamillah Hanks, Francisco P. Moya, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Carlina Rivera , Chris Banks, Joann Ariola
Council Member Sponsors: 18
Summary: This bill would require New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) to disseminate localized emergency preparedness materials in locations that are prone to flash floods, in order to increase public awareness as to the appropriate responses by members of the public to flash flood risks and to increase registration for an emergency notification system. Such efforts would involve outreach conduct in-person and via mass mailings, and target locations selected with consideration of: (i) a history of flash flood events; and (iii) the prevalence of subgrade dwellings. Additionally, NYCEM would be required to develop guidance for facilitating safe evacuation before flash flood emergencies.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 807-A, 2. Summary of Int. No. 807, 3. Int. No. 807, 4. April 18, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 5. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 4-18-24, 6. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - April 18, 2024, 7. Fiscal Impact Statement - Council, 8. Fiscal Impact Statement - OMB, 9. Committee Report 1/29/25, 10. Hearing Testimony 1/29/25, 11. Hearing Transcript 1/29/25, 12. Proposed Int. No. 807-A - 4/7/25, 13. Int. No. 807-A - Fiscal Impact Statement - City Council, 14. Int. No. 807-A - Fiscal Impact Statement - OMB, 15. Committee Report 4/10/25, 16. Committee Report - Stated Meeting, 17. April 10, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
4/10/2025ASelvena N. Brooks-Powers City Council Sent to Mayor by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/10/2025ASelvena N. Brooks-Powers City Council Approved by CouncilPass Action details Meeting details Not available
4/10/2025*Selvena N. Brooks-Powers Committee on Fire and Emergency Management Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/10/2025*Selvena N. Brooks-Powers Committee on Fire and Emergency Management Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/10/2025*Selvena N. Brooks-Powers Committee on Fire and Emergency Management Amended by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/10/2025ASelvena N. Brooks-Powers Committee on Fire and Emergency Management Approved by CommitteePass Action details Meeting details Not available
1/29/2025*Selvena N. Brooks-Powers Committee on Fire and Emergency Management Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
1/29/2025*Selvena N. Brooks-Powers Committee on Fire and Emergency Management Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/18/2024*Selvena N. Brooks-Powers City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/18/2024*Selvena N. Brooks-Powers City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Int. No. 807-A

 

By Council Members Brooks-Powers, Gennaro, Brannan, Louis, Riley, Hanif, Williams, Cabán, Schulman, Narcisse, De La Rosa, Won, Hanks, Moya, Gutiérrez, Rivera, Banks and Ariola

 

A local law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to flash flood preparedness outreach and evacuation guidance

 

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 30 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 30-117 to read as follows:

§ 30-117 Flash flood preparedness outreach and evacuation guidance. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Basement. The term “basement” means a story partly below the grade plane and having less than one-half its clear height (measured from finished floor to finished ceiling) below the grade plane.

Cellar. The term “cellar” means a portion of a building that is partly or wholly underground, and having one-half or more of its clear height (measured from finished floor to finished ceiling) below the grade plane.

Cellar or basement dwelling. The term “cellar or basement dwelling” means a room or space used for sleeping that is located at the basement or cellar level of a residential building.

Flash flood. The term “flash flood” means flooding that begins within 6 hours, and often within 3 hours, of heavy rainfall.

b. The office shall develop guidance for facilitating safe evacuation before flash flood emergencies. Such guidance shall include but need not be limited to: (i) information on how residents may avoid the dangers of flash flooding events; (ii) guidance on how and when to safely evacuate a location prone to flash flooding prior to a flash flood event, and (iii) existing public or private facilities suitable for individuals seeking refuge in anticipation of a flash flood event. Such guidance shall be included in the office’s annual report within one year of the enactment of the local law that added this section. 

c. The commissioner shall establish an outreach program to increase registration for Notify NYC alerts and to coordinate efforts across agencies to increase public awareness regarding the appropriate responses by members of the public to flash flood risks, including evacuation planning established pursuant to subdivision b of this section. Such program shall include the distribution of emergency preparedness materials and information in-person, and distribution through mass mail, guidance for building and property owners, and any other means the commissioner deems appropriate for locations prone to flash floods.

d. The program established by subdivision c of this section shall target locations based on but not limited to the following factors:

1. A history of flash flood events; or

2. The prevalence of basement or cellar dwellings, to the extent such information is available.

e. Within 1 year of the enactment of the local law that added this section, and annually thereafter, the office shall include in their annual report the details of the outreach program established by subdivision c, including the locations selected for outreach.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law.JDK/LH

LS #14730

3.31.2025