Mayor Mamdani Opens 51 Overnight Safe Locations Ahead of Heavy Rain and Flash Flood Threat

July 28, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Mayor Mamdani Opens 51 Safe Overnight Locations Ahead of Heavy Rain and Flash Flood Threat

City executing full emergency response, clearing catch basins, inspecting flood-prone neighborhoods and contacting residents in basement apartments

Specialized emergency teams, including Downed Tree Task Force and Tow Truck Task Force, on standby

⁠NEW YORK - Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) today urged New Yorkers to prepare for waves of heavy rain expected Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Ahead of potential life-threatening flash flooding overnight, the City is opening 51 safe overnight locations at New York City Public Schools across the five boroughs. The locations will open at 8 p.m. Tuesday and remain available while dangerous conditions persist. New Yorkers can find the nearest safe overnight location by calling 311 or visiting on.nyc.gov/SafeLocations. Service animals and pets are welcome.

The City is urging New Yorkers to take the following precautions:

• Limit travel during periods of heavy rain. If you must travel, use caution and never walk or drive through floodwaters. Take public transit whenever possible.
• If you live in a basement apartment, ground-floor home or another area that has flooded before, make a plan now. Know where you will go if your home begins to flood, whether that's a neighbor's apartment on a higher floor, a nearby public building or the home of a friend or family member. Safe overnight locations are available in every borough by calling 311 or visiting on.nyc.gov/SafeLocations. Sign up for basement alerts at on.nyc.gov/basements.
• Prepare a Go Bag with medications, a flashlight, batteries, a portable phone charger, important documents in waterproof bags and other essentials.
• During high winds, stay indoors whenever possible, avoid downed power lines and trees and secure outdoor furniture, trash bins and other loose items.
• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or trapped by rising water.
• Sign up for Notify NYC emergency alerts by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692.
• Report downed trees, blocked catch basins and other non-emergency hazards to 311.
• Visit http://nyc.gov/beready for emergency preparedness guidance.

"Keeping New Yorkers safe begins before the storm arrives. Tonight's forecast calls for dangerous conditions, especially for New Yorkers living in a basement apartments and neighborhoods that have flooded before," said Mayor Mamdani. "Our City has been preparing across all five boroughs by clearing catch basins, inspecting flood-prone streets and opening 51 safe overnight locations where people can spend the night out of harm's way. I urge New Yorkers to take this storm seriously: make a plan, sign up for emergency alerts and check in on your neighbors."

"Tonight's storm will not impact every neighborhood the same way, but any community that experiences repeated rounds of heavy rain could see dangerous, life-threatening flash flooding," said NYCEM Commissioner Christina Farrell. "Conditions can change quickly overnight, so now is the time to make a plan. If you live in a flood-prone area or are concerned about your safety, take advantage of one of the City's Safe Locations during severe weather."

"Student and family safety is always our top priority, and we are proud to open our schools in partnership with the Mamdani administration and NYC Emergency Management to ensure our school communities have the resources they need during tonight's severe weather," said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. "We encourage any family who feels unsafe to take advantage of these safe locations. We will continue to closely monitor conditions overnight and will communicate promptly with families and staff about any impact to summer operations."

The NWS has issued a Flood Watch for New York City from 2 p.m. Tuesday through 8 p.m. Wednesday. Forecasts call for 1.5 to 4 inches of rain citywide, with localized totals up to 5 inches. Rainfall rates could reach 1 to 2 inches per hour during the heaviest periods, increasing the risk of flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas and locations with poor drainage.

New Yorkers should continue to monitor weather conditions and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions overnight. Sign up for Notify NYC alerts by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692 or visiting nyc.gov/notifynyc. For more preparedness guidance, visit nyc.gov/beready.

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