Mayor Mamdani Announces $95 Million Cloudburst Project to Manage Flooding in Homecrest, Brooklyn

 – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia, NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura, New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn and New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Chancellor Kamar Samuels today announced $95 million in DEP funding for an innovative Cloudburst stormwater management project in Homecrest, Brooklyn.  

The project is designed to reduce flooding, protect local waterways and strengthen neighborhood resilience as extreme weather becomes more frequent and more severe. 

Cloudburst projects use a network of neighborhood-scale infrastructure to move stormwater off streets during short, intense storms without overwhelming the sewer system. In Homecrest, DEP will install porous pavement on City streets and underground storage systems on public land, managing an estimated 30 million gallons of stormwater each year. The Homecrest project will be built to handle the increasingly common, heavy downpours that can drop more than two inches of rain in a single hour.

The Homecrest project will relieve pressure on the sewer system during peak rainfall by capturing and storing stormwater before it floods streets or flows untreated into Coney Island Creek. Reducing polluted runoff is essential to protecting water quality and meeting Clean Water Act standards.   

“We are building a city that protects New Yorkers in the places where flooding hits hardest,” said Mayor Mamdani. “This project turns everyday public spaces — our schoolyards, streets and parking lots — into infrastructure that keeps our communities safe. As climate change accelerates, investments like this are not optional. They are how we deliver a city that is resilient, equitable and prepared.”  

“Climate change is already here, and our infrastructure must catch up. Cloudburst projects rebuild our city with the green infrastructure, like porous pavement and underground stormwater storage, that will keep us safe during storms,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “These investments into stormwater management are increasingly critical, and I am glad to see our agencies working hand in hand to deliver creative solutions to flooding.”  

“The Homecrest Cloudburst project is a major step forward in protecting this community from the kind of extreme rainfall we know is becoming more common,” said DEP Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia. “By capturing and storing stormwater before it overwhelms local streets and sewers, we’re reducing flood risk, improving water quality in Coney Island Creek and building the resilient infrastructure New Yorkers deserve.” 

The project will target flooding hotspots across a 350-acre area, including Kings Highway, Coney Island Avenue and avenues P, R, S, T, U and V.

In partnership with NYC Parks, NYC DOT and NYCPS, DEP is evaluating traffic triangles, athletic courts, schoolyards and parking lots as sites for underground storage tanks. 

“New Yorkers shouldn’t have to worry about flooding every time there’s intense rain. In addition to making South Brooklyn more resilient to extreme weather and protecting our waterways from pollution, this new Cloudburst system will include upgrades to Homecrest’s public spaces that New Yorkers will be able to enjoy, rain or shine,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “We’re proud to work with DEP and our partners across City government to design Cloudburst systems here and throughout the city.” 

“As climate change continues to bring wetter weather to the five boroughs, we must act urgently and collaboratively to construct stormwater management systems in public spaces that will protect future generations from the damages of devastating flooding,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “We look forward to working in lockstep with our sister agencies to deliver these critical infrastructure enhancements across the city in the years ahead.”   

“Investments like this help keep our communities safe,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels. “I’m grateful to our City partners for coming together and prioritizing what might go unnoticed by many but can have a huge impact should a cloudburst occur. Together, we are building a more resilient future for our Homecrest students and staff.” 

“For too long, every time a major storm rolls through, families throughout Southern Brooklyn have watched their streets turn into rivers — and every year it’s happening more and more due to climate change. We’ve dealt with flooded basements, damaged cars and roads that become impassable,” said State Senator Sam Sutton. “This $95 million investment in infrastructure is exactly the kind of serious, long-term commitment our communities need.”  

“Climate change is real. Once-in-a-century storms are happening with increasing frequency and even smaller weather events are flooding critical infrastructure like streets and subway stations all across our City. It is a crisis that needs to be addressed with the fierce urgency of now,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08). “I’m grateful to Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection for their work to secure $95 million and advance this program for the people of Homecrest, as well as for standing up to the Trump administration’s efforts to undo the transformative climate resiliency investments that House Democrats brought to life through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”

“Flooding in Homecrest and across Southern Brooklyn has been a long-standing problem that residents — and my office — have been raising for years as the city has faced a rapid increase in intense storms,” said Assemblymember Michael Novakhov. “Our community needs real, consistent infrastructure solutions that address these challenges and deliver lasting results. I will continue working to ensure that projects like this are implemented effectively and that our neighborhoods finally continue to receive the attention they deserve.” 

“Investing in projects like Cloudbursts helps alleviate the disruptions caused by the increase in intense storms across our borough,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “As the climate crisis worsens, it is imperative to protect Brooklynites from its devastating effects — especially in southern Brooklyn and other coastal parts of the borough. I applaud Mayor Mamdani and the DEP for making this investment for our neighbors in Homecrest and look forward to working together to fight for better climate protections across Brooklyn.” 

“On behalf of Community Board 15, we are elated to see a flood resiliency project implemented in southern Brooklyn,” said Theresa Scavo, Chair of Brooklyn Community Board 15. “After the devastation of Super Storm Sandy, our community fears every time there is a forecast of heavy downpours.”  

DEP launched its Cloudburst Management Program in 2023, advancing projects in flood-prone neighborhoods across the city, including Parkchester in the Bronx; Brownsville and East New York in Brooklyn; East Harlem in Manhattan; and Corona, Jamaica, Kissena and St. Albans in Queens. DEP continues to seek federal funding to support additional projects.  

April 30, 2026

NEW YORK

Sources:
• Official NYC Mayor’s Office announcement
• Full article on Big New York – BigNY.com