Severe storms leave trail of damage across Brooklyn
At the intersection of Lenox Road and East 55th Street, the aftermath of Thursday's heavy rain and thunderstorms was hard to miss.
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Residents across Brooklyn are surveying the damage after severe storms moved through the borough Thursday, bringing heavy rain, flooding and powerful winds that left neighborhoods underwater and streets littered with fallen trees.
For many Brooklyn residents, the aftermath has become an all-too-familiar sight.
On the border of Ocean Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant, Paige Laino said floodwaters rose so quickly near her Bainbridge Street home that she barely had time to react.
"It was instantaneous like that," Laino said. "I'm watching TV, and then there's water up to here. It feels apocalyptic. Like you're in a movie."
Laino said her neighborhood has repeatedly experienced flooding during heavy rain events, and each storm brings new concerns about property damage.
One of the biggest frustrations is the damage caused to vehicles caught in the floodwaters.
"Every single time, the electrical wiring in my car is shot," she said. "We're not the only community facing this problem."
In East Flatbush, residents spent Friday navigating streets blocked by downed trees after strong winds swept through the area.
Near Lenox Road and East 55th Street, several trees were uprooted, with one crashing onto a parked vehicle.
Resident Evens Heurtelou said neighbors had previously raised concerns about the condition of some trees in the area.
"Unbelievable," Heurtelou said. "The city, you keep telling them, trim that tree. That tree is no good. It's falling down. Nothing has been done."
Back in Ocean Hill and Bed-Stuy, Laino said she and her neighbors have repeatedly contacted city agencies and local officials about drainage concerns but feel their complaints have gone unanswered.
"Even though my car is floating away, they're like, 'It's fixed. We cleaned out the drain three months ago,'" she said. "So we all call our representatives, DEP, community board meetings. Nothing gets done."
The city has announced several initiatives to strengthen flood protections. Officials say they are investing $43 million to hire workers who will help operate flood gates protecting Lower Manhattan by 2027. The city is also investing $108 million to upgrade and replace thousands of catch basins over the next decade.
But residents in some of Brooklyn's hardest-hit neighborhoods say they want to see immediate action in communities that have repeatedly experienced flooding and storm-related damage.
"It's a broad issue that needs to be dealt with by everyone, Laino said. Not just our little guys on the corner."
As cleanup efforts continue, many residents say they are hoping long-term infrastructure improvements will arrive before the next major storm hits.
