New York and Flood Evacuation Zones

Just come up to Harlem, where it's safe in every way -- not just in terms of crime.

Yes, I was greatcom. If the areas you mention flood, the subways will long be out of service, but at least I have a chance of staying in my apartment as long as I have a good supply of water and food. I first learned about it at Red Cross volunteer seminars and was pretty surprised at how ignorant most New Yorkers are about the flood evacuation zones. Keep in mind, we'll be encouraged to stay as long as possible because Long Island will be evacuated before us so no matter where you live if you think you want to evacuate, evacuate early before it is impossible to get out of town.

Good advice, Valldejuli. Sometimes I think of getting an inflatable kayak just in case such a calamity ensues; then I decide it would be just one more piece of unused junk and that I'd probably rather die in my apartment than by getting washed out to sea anyway. But it is remarkable how little people are aware of the potential flooding issue. And getting flood insurance, as I have discovered, is a complete and total pain. I still haven't got mine locked in.

There's a new wrinkle with flood insurance in NYC. We chose not to buy in one of the old flood zones, but we live next to one. A few months ago, our insurance broker told us -- if I am remembering this correctly -- that the city's potential for a flood disaster was recently upgraded. Therefore, the state is allowing insurance companies to dump clients who are not in the old official flood zones, to lessen the liability. However, they can only do it randomly by computer. This is a crazy concept. Our contract was cancelled and we had to find new insurance.I know several others who had the same experience. The US government has lots of information online about flood potential in various areas (as in the link shared above and on other sites). I believe I saw that in a Katrina-like storm, most of lower Manhattan and its subways would be flooded, as well as other parts of the city.

evnyc, what do you mean it was a pain? Can you explain why?

All, do you need flood insurance even if you live well above the ground floor?

If you live in a large building in a flood zone, the building should be heavily insured. Mine is covered for $60,000,000. Flooding would take place in the basements first and since all the mechanicals of the building are usually there, you would be out of luck.....no elevators...electricity etc.
It would be a nightmare!

i'm in one of the orange zones, previously unbeknownst to me. i have a going-down-the-stairs phobia, and i'm on the 13th floor. almost enough to make me move.

Well I live in Harlem and my block is green. But i am on the fourth floor and the entrance is on the second, so...I guess I could swim a block away to a safe area.

I'm really surprised that Trumpsville (Riverside Boulevard), which is built on landfill, is largely a no-flood zone.

Greatcom, what the insurance agencies have told me is that they will not issue a flood policy unless they also get your business for a general insurance policy. My current insurer never got back to me about whether they would do such a policy (I need to follow up, but it hasn't been high on the priority list) so I'm either going to have to jump to a company I've never heard of to get it or just wing it and hope for the best. Honestly I have no idea if you need it on higher floors, but I am on the ground floor so I want it.

Prada, these insurance companies are tricky: the building will be insured, but your belongings will not be, and renter's insurance policies don't cover your property if it is damaged by flooding. Maybe you own and it is a different situation for owners?

Sorry, to be more specific, I meant renter's insurance policy when I said general insurance. They would not just write the flood policy.

I do own and live on the 24th floor so I don't have to worry about being flooded in my apt and my building is highly insured.
One can buy flood insurance from the government too.

prada -- would not be fun to be marooned on the 24th floor while the lower floors are water logged
alanhart -- I appreciate the temple that is Harlem, but please look at the map -- most of E Harlem is in the flood zone as are other chunks

I meant that I don't have to worry about my property in my apt.- obviously I would have to leave the building.

Read this little snippet at the end of a WSJ article about the city of Houston considering flood gates like they have in Amsterdam and London:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124407051124382899.html

"Houston isn't the only coastal city looking for a quick fix to hurricane threats. Scientists and engineers recently met in New York City to discuss ways to protect it from hurricanes like the one that struck in September 1821, flooding all of Manhattan south of Canal Street. Among the proposals: a $6 billion, five-mile-long barrier between New Jersey and the Rockaway Peninsula in New York City's borough of Queens."

A brief timeline of hurricanes in NYC:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/oem/html/hazards/storms_hurricanehistory.shtml

http://maps.nyc.gov/hurricane/

I wonder if this will impact property values of areas that are not in flood zones.

As of now it seems the flood-prone areas of Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens are still the most pricey!

Neighborhoods with Hill, Heights, Slope or Ridge in their name are pretty safe bets - that's where the shelters can be found.

My Mom was always fond of recounting the 1938 hurricane to us as kids, which oftentimes I'd roll my eyes while hearing it for the umpteenth time.

Apparently she wasn't exaggerating - this is the infamous storm that was later dubbed "The Long Island Express", which has been the subject of a number of documentaries. It wasn't until I saw one of them I finally realized it was no b.s.

She was living on Hart Street, between Marcy & Nostrand Avenues in Bed Stuy at the time, & was in her senior year at Eastern District High School.

She said the wind had been picking up all day, but by the time school let out it was obvious what was happening, catching everyone off guard. She said trees were falling & crashing everywhere, which was scary enough, but completely freaked when a huge one came down slicing a fire escape off a building facade. She could hardly believe she made it home without a scratch.

And to think Sandy wasn't even technically a hurricane...

>but by the time school let out it was obvious what was happening, catching everyone off guard. She said trees were falling & crashing everywhere, which was scary enough, but completely freaked when a huge one came down slicing a fire escape off a building facade. She could hardly believe she made it home without a scratch.

They were really serious about education back then

Grandma-alanhart was an Eastern District HS graduate also. But no LI Express stories from her, just LI iced teas.

Providence got it worse than Brooklyn, even in the Eastern District.

That's your grandmother on your father's side, I assume?

I'm an internet discussion board entity. Assume what you will.

Apparently they were, Greensy Babes. School didn't let out for a mere 90MPH wind. Unthinkable!

She even told me how one teacher, a real "Miss Gulch" type from her description, used to pick at a wart on her face & eat the pickings! Appetizing, eh?!? YECH!!!

I wonder if my Mom knew Grandma AlanHart?!? Wait - come to think of it - yes; I do recall her mentioning a classmate who never came to school without a hip flask or cocktail shaker. (Sorry - couldn't resist!)

Food was scarce in the 1930s. So was drink. Therefore both the face and the flask were acceptable. You gotta LIVE, LIVE, LIVE!

Very true - now where'd I put that recipe for wart salad...

The one by Moletha SpewArt?

No, by Trulia Vile.

What was that movie with the guy with the moving mole?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/opinion/sunday/city-of-water.html?hp&_r=0

Upper Manhattan, and inland Queens and Brooklyn are safest places to buy in order to avoid flooding.