BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Any time there are inches of rain in the forecast, City Island residents know it’s time to start taking evasive action.
Orion and Katie live a block away from the water in this section of the Bronx.
“If the wind blows the right way and there’s rain, we definitely get flooding all the way up here,” said Orion.
Getting their car to higher ground away from Ditmars Street and its single, now clogged storm drain remains a top priority.
“Yeah, the street floods. At least once a year. It turns into a river,” said Katie.
It’s a popular approach for residents in other flood-prone neighborhoods across the city.
But local Council member Kristy Marmorato, whose district includes City Island, says she’s petitioning to get her constituents some much-needed help.
“So, going forward we’re going to try to look into building some sea walls, we’re also going to do some flood barrier giveaways we do not have a date determined for that yet.,” Marmorato said. “We need to set up a gameplan with the deputy commissioner of coastal resiliency and come up with some sort of gameplan just to see how we can combat this, not just in city island, but in the rest of our district, because it’s happening all over.”
Until then folks like Dan are pivoting to Plan B.
“That’s why I’m leaving. Well out of this spot. I don’t want to get stranded,” said Dan, who was driving away in his pickup truck.