Flood Mitigation Projects Approved to Protect Westchester Residents
Flooded basements. Impassable roads. Waterlogged school fields. Since 2009, Westchester County has invested over $120 million fighting a relentless problem that threatens property, safety, and quality of life. This week, the Westchester County Board of Legislators approved another $1.925 million to protect residents in New Rochelle, Croton-on-Hudson, and Bronxville from the recurring floods that have plagued these neighborhoods.
Legislators approved the critical infrastructure investments that will install modern stormwater drainage systems in three of the County’s most hard-hit communities: the City of New Rochelle (Stephenson Brook watershed area), the Village of Croton-on-Hudson (Brook Street corridor), and Garth Woods in Bronxville. The projects will construct new drainage pipes, catch basins, and related infrastructure designed to redirect stormwater away from flood-prone neighborhoods.
The County will fund approximately half the cost of each project through its Stormwater Management Program, with municipalities covering the remainder and maintaining the systems after construction. All three projects are expected to be completed within two years.
Beyond protecting individual properties, the improvements will help reduce flood insurance costs for affected residents and enhance emergency response capabilities during severe weather events. The projects were identified through scientific watershed studies that pinpoint flooding problems and develop targeted engineering solutions.
The Board will continue using every available tool to address flooding wherever it occurs across Westchester. Through strategic partnerships with municipalities and sustained investment in stormwater infrastructure, the County is building a more resilient community capable of withstanding the increasingly severe storms that threaten neighborhoods throughout the region.
Board Chairman Vedat Gashi (D- New Castle, Ossining, Somers, Yorktown) said, “With these measures, the Board is continuing the important everyday work of improving our County's roads, bridges, and drainage systems. These aren't luxury investments—they're essential improvements to public safety and community resilience. When families can't use their basements, when roads become rivers, when kids lose their playing fields after every storm, we have a responsibility to act. That's exactly what we're doing.”
Legislator Jewel Williams Johnson (D- Elmsford, Greenburgh, Tarrytown, White Plains), Chair of the Board’s Budget and Appropriations Committee, said, “For too many of our neighbors—especially in the flood-prone areas I represent—every storm brings the fear of loss. I’m glad my colleagues and I on the Board of Legislators have approved funding for these infrastructure projects; they are a promise kept—practical safeguards that reduce damage, spare families unexpected costs, and help our communities breathe easier when the rain begins to fall.”
Legislator Erika L. Pierce (D- Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, Somers), Chair of the Board’s Public Works and Transportation Committee, said, “Flooding impacts all of our communities to various degrees, and with the increasing intensity of storms, those impacts are growing. Westchester County is proud to help bring modern stormwater infrastructure to our communities. Drainage systems, catch basins, and pipes aren't just technical solutions—they're investments in our residents' safety and quality of life. By partnering with local municipalities, we're using solid engineering to solve real problems and ensuring that water isn't simply pushed to another community. This is what good public works looks like: protecting people and making all communities safer.”
Watch the full meeting HERE.