NYC! Share Your Flood Story

Your experience matters. Whether your basement flooded once or your block floods every storm, your story helps us understand what's really happening in NYC neighborhoods and advocate for real solutions.

This form takes 3-5 minutes. Everything is optional except your story location.

Your information will:
✓ Help document flood-prone areas across NYC
✓ Support advocacy for infrastructure improvements
✓ May be featured in Dear Neighbor Project public art (with your permission)
✓ Connect you to flood preparedness resources

All responses are confidential unless you choose to share publicly.

Tell us what happened: Describe your experience in your own words. What did you see? How did it affect you, your home, or your business?

If you're having difficulty, here are some guiding prompts:

• If you were speaking to a neighbor on your block — or someone who’s never seen flooding in [your neighborhood] — what’s the one thing you’d want them to understand about what’s happening here
• Think back to the last big flood. Where were you when it started? What did you notice first? Walk me through what you saw, heard, or sensed in that moment, only as much as you’d like to share.
• Have you been caught in heavy rain? How did you feel? What made you feel that way or not? Can you take us back to that moment and describe it (if you'd like)? Was there anyone who helped you get through it—official or unofficial support?
• What did you see when the rain finally stopped? How long did it take for your neighborhood to return to ‘normal,’ if it ever did? What does this new normal look like?
• What would a ‘rainproof’ version of your street or building look like to you? If you had the resources or power, what’s one thing you’d change about how your neighborhood deals with flooding?

Consent & Release Form:
By submitting material(s) of any type or format, including but not limited to videos, photographs, audio messages, and text, to Rainproof NYC, Rebuild by Design at the Institute of Public Knowledge, New York University or its partners, I _________________________________ (“Participant”) grant a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, reproduce, and display my submissions for the Rainproof NYC community mapping tool and related promotions. I consent to the use of my name, voice, image, and words without compensation. I represent and warrant that I am at least 18 years old or have obtained parental consent. I release any claims related to the use of my submissions, and I agree to indemnify against any claims arising from my submissions.