By now everyone is aware of the devastating flash flooding that occurred in the Texas Hill Country that took the lives of 138 people on the night of July 4. But did you know that three people were killed in related flooding in New Mexico? Or that on July 11, six died as a result of flash flooding in North Carolina? How about the fact that major roads in the Chicago area were underwater from a reported 1,000-year flood event in mid-July? Or that Kansas City experienced flooding on July 17? Or that Wisconsin received 10-inches of rain in some locations that resulted in historic flooding for that state in the month of August? Or that closer to home, New York City experienced flooding in its subway system on July 14 due to an extended downpour that overwhelmed its storm drain system? Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims of these and other natural disasters. If it wasn’t for the recent dry spell, the summer 2025 would likely have gone down as the summer of wide-spread flash flooding. Keep in mind that hurricane season isn’t even over yet.
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The State of New York is not immune to flash flooding. In fact, many locations, particularly in hilly/mountainous areas, experience flash floods regularly. See our featured article in the newsletter about flash floods for more information. To put it frankly, with changing weather patterns due to climate change we can expect to see more instances of severe flash flooding cropping up around the state and around the country. While government can and should do more to monitor these events and warn citizens of their likelihood, individuals need to take it upon themselves to be aware of the risk in their communities and have a plan to evacuate and seek higher ground if they know a flood is coming. NYSFSMA plans to speak more about flash flooding at future events.
On a lighter note, NYSFSMA enthusiastically announces the creation of our Young and Emerging Professionals (YEP) committee. Anyone who is a member of NYSFSMA between the ages of 18-40 or someone outside that age bracket who recently changed careers and now works in floodplain or stormwater management can be a part of the YEP committee. YEPs will be helping NYSFSMA plan and run events and host YEP-specific networking opportunities. Contact vicechair@nyfloods.org if you’re interested in joining our YEP committee.
NYSFSMA organized a webinar on the topic of “Flood Map Outreach Resources for NYS Communities” on September 18 for continuing education credit. We are also hosted a free Lunch and Learn on September 30 titled “Land Use Strategies for Managing Flood Risk-No Adverse Impact Floodplain Stewardship.” Also of interest, our friends at the Waterfront Alliance are hosting a training on Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines (WEDG) Professionals Course: Rivers Edition. This is a national training program that empowers professionals to design and implement high-quality waterfront projects along rivers, creeks, and inland waterways. The course will explore the unique flood risks and climate challenges facing riverine communities, nature-based solutions, green infrastructure, and community engagement strategies. This webinar will be held over two, days, November 12-13. Check out the Events page on our website for links to registration.
Hot off the presses, we just learned that NYS adopted rules that change the Uniform Code and development standards in 500-Year floodplains. Read more about it in the article dedicated to the topic in this newsletter.
Finally, as we enter the fourth quarter of the year membership renewals will begin to be sent out. Be sure to keep your membership current in order to receive discounts on all the important and useful events and resources that NYSFSMA provides.
Be sure to enjoy the cooler fall weather and beautiful autumn colors that New York has to offer in this season.
Yours in floodplain and stormwater management,
NYSFSMA Board of Directors