Trinity Institute 2017: Water Justice

Trinity Church

March 23, 2017

www.NICHIusa.org

Rising Sea Levels, Extreme Storms and Aging Infrastructure:

“Is New York City as we know it worth saving?”

The Case for a NY NJ Storm Surge Barrier System

Super Storm Sandy

The Facts: NYC Impact of Super Storm Sandy14 foot Storm Surge*

• 48 Deaths in NYC• $19 Billion in Damages• Over 150 homes and commercial buildings destroyed• 305,000 housing units damaged• Eleven million customers without power, internet • Lower Manhattan loses water, elevators, heat, subways• All car tunnels to Manhattan flooded except for Lincoln• Three NYC area international airports damaged and closed• Billions of gallons of raw and partially treated sewage

discharged• Bellevue Hospital Center Evacuated

Four Years Later….. Lest We Forget

The Facts don’t Tell the Whole Story

The Next Sandy?It’s not a question of if, but When!

Current NY Flood Risk Map Category 1-4 Hurricanes

The Solution

Local Projects Address Sea Level Rise

A Regional Storm Surge Barrier System Addresses Storm

Surge

Meeting the Challenge and Seizing the Opportunity of

Sea Level Rise, Extreme Storms and Aging

Infrastructure

The Alternatives

• Ignore the Reality of Scientific and Economic Data and Do Nothing

• Retreat from the Sea and Abandon Centuries of Coastal Investment

• Build Local Projects to Protect Only Selected Communities

• Combine Local Seal Level Projects with a Regional Surge Barrier System

• OR…….

Join Me on My Ark