From NY1: Rockaway Residents Say Clogged Storm Drains Clearly A Problem

Rockaway Residents Say Clogged Storm Drains Clearly A Problem 

By: Arlene Borenstein NY1

Rockaway residents who live on Shorefront Parkway, located just feet from the ocean, are concerned there are too many catch basins or storm drains covered in weeds and packed with dirt.

"We're already compromised in terms of being on the waterfront, so I can't imagine the water has a place to go," said Marie Raico, a concerned resident.

Longtime Rockaway resident Dan Brown says after taking his own inventory of the clogged catch basins, he was startled at what he found.

"There were some that were unrecognizable, I had to dig to find them," he said.

Some residents say it didn't take Hurricane Sandy to overwhelm the drains. They say average rainstorms can mean flooding.

"What happens is the water goes down and goes into that stairwell. Down there we have all of our electric. We have boilers, we have hot our water tanks," said Ray Watson, a concerned resident.

Residents say they have called 311 but feel like they're just getting the run around.

"They take our orders, they give it to the DEP, and we've got no satisfaction from that," Brown said.

NY1 contacted the city Department of Environmental Protection and a spokesperson said crews are moving through the Rockaways cleaning catch basins and sewers. But
residents say they hope crews get to all of them before they're really needed.

"It appears will be in a little bit of a problematic situation again once a storm comes," said Dennis Raico, a concerned resident.

The DEP says residents should continue to call 311 to report clogged basins.