Williams testifies on climate risks in geographically isolated neighborhoods
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams thanks the Chair and committee and lists isolated neighborhoods including parts of Staten Island, City Island, Howard Beach, Broad Channel, Red Hook, and the Rockaways. He says these communities face frontline climate exposures, reliance on single bridges or narrow causeways, flooding, power disruptions, and response-time inflation from traffic and staffing shortages.
Thank you so much.
Peace and blessings, love and light to everyone.
Thank you for allowing me to read my opening statement in the middle of the hearing.
I appreciate that.
No, I'm sorry.
I was at 26th Federal Plaza.
But this is really important.
That's why I wanted to make sure I was here because we get complaints from a lot of these communities.
So good morning.
As mentioned, my name is Jermaine Williams, public advocate of the city of New York.
I want to thank Chair Areola as well.
members of the Committee on Fire and Emergency Management for holding this hearing and for the opportunity to share testimony.
Certain New York City neighborhoods that are geographically isolated, including parts of Staten Island, City Island, Howard Beach, Broad Channel, Red Hook, and the Rockaways, face heightened overlapping risks during climate emergencies.
Many of these areas'vulnerabilities stem largely from structural limitations or critical infrastructure needs.
These communities face frontline climate exposures, meaning that they tend to bear the brunt of coastal storms and may rely on single bridges or narrow causeways for emergency access.
Severe weather events in New York City, such as the late September 2026 nor'easter, have routinely triggered localized flooding up to three feet, causing power disruptions and trapping residents who rely on local utilities like Con Edison.
Though geography impacts transit in many cities, data tracked by New York City's Emergency Management, NYSIM, and the New York City Fire Department, FDNY, show that traffic density, staffing shortages, and high call volumes inflate response times for
far more than just physical distance.
Furthermore, the events of August 2026 demonstrated the city's vulnerability to widespread emergency system failures, revealing how whole disruptions to 9-11 call services can occur.
Although the city has taken steps to safeguard local businesses and residents against the escalating impacts of climate change, further action is absolutely necessary to enhance our emergency response frameworks to ensure priority assistance reaches geographically isolated communities.