East New York residents demand solutions to alleviate constant street flooding

Neighbors tell News 12 the area on Ruby Street and Blake Avenue has been flooding for years. The damage is so great, many call this area the "hole" due its low elevation compared to other areas nearby.

News 12 Staff

May 13, 2022, 12:14 AM

Updated 883 days ago

Share:

Residents in one East New York neighborhood say they're fed up and frustrated with streets getting flooded in the area for years.
They’re now hoping for some relief as they’ve been actively calling on the city for help.
Neighbors tell News 12 the area on Ruby Street and Blake Avenue has been flooding for years. The damage is so great, many call this area the "hole" due its low elevation compared to other areas nearby.
They say it's time for a change and that poor drainage issues need to be solved once and for all.
One resident says some neighbors volunteer to pump out the water from the area when it gets flooded. He also said it's frustrating because they feel ignored anytime someone complains to the city about the constant flooding.
News 12 cameras were rolling as cars tried to make their way down Ruby Street, with many having to get through high levels of water. Some cars had to re-route due to the standing water that was left behind from rainfall.
News 12 was also shown other blocks like Amber and Sapphire streets that are also experiencing similar issues with standing water.
Boris Santos, of East New York Land Trust, says they did a walk through with the Department of Environmental Protection, the Sanitation Department and other agencies about three weeks ago.
They will have a follow up meeting with the DEP this Monday.
In a statement, the Department of Environmental Protection says there are challenges in the area due to topography, but further add, "Engineers are currently advancing other long-term solutions – exploring both grey and green infrastructure options – which would be less costly and disruptive to the community. Green solutions that work with the natural environment have proven to be more capable of handling the types of storms that climate change is bringing to the region."
Santos, he says the way the city is able to get the job done also matters to those who live in the area, and they hope to avoid any serious disruptions.
"It matters. Look there’s process and there’s end product, and both matter, right? Both lead to further frustration or constant frustration, or they lead to a sense of satisfaction and happiness that, yes, things were done right here. We will see what happens," Santos says.
Residents say they look forward to Monday's meeting with the Department of Environmental Protection and further steps to be taken to make sure the street won't flood again.