What is it about?
This study presents a flood risk assessment of New York City (NY,USA) where exposure and vulnerability hotspots are identified. In addition to direct exposure through population counts, the study identified disproportionately impacted communities based on the exposure to flooding of local critical infrastructures and services, such as education facilities, healthcare and welfare services, and transportation stops.
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Why is it important?
Our findings show how critical infrastructures and services are highly exposed to urban flooding under extreme scenarios. For instance, more than 30% of the city's education and public safety facilities are located within a short distance to extreme flooding. These observations illustrate why climate risk assessments should look beyond direct exposure to floodwaters and consider how disruptions to essential services can amplify impacts across urban communities.
Perspectives
This article was made possible by the release of New York City’s first pluvial flood hazard maps. Pluvial flooding is especially difficult to map in large cities because of the complex and uncertain ways stormwater moves across urban surfaces and interacts with drainage systems. The release of New York City's pluvial flood hazard maps unlocked this applied research at a time in which extreme precipitation events become more intense and frequent. We hope this study will stimulate further discussion on how the indirect and cascading impacts of urban flooding can be assessed and incorporated into planning.
Pablo Herreros-Cantis
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Expanding frameworks: Integrating vulnerability, exposure, and critical infrastructure to assess pluvial flood risks in New York City, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, September 2026, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2520315122.
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