Red Hook Gets High Water Mark Plaque 7 Years After Sandy Struck

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Brooklyn celebrated its seventh "Sandyversary" with a high water mark sign to show where waters surged to 5.75 feet, officials announced.

The nonprofit PortSide New York unveiled the new Sandy High Water Mark at the Atlantic Basin, along with a map of local flooding by local cartographer Jim McMahon, in Red Hook Tuesday, before marching off in the annual Barnacle Parade on Pioneer Street.

"I hope that these signs will help educate students and adults and help them prepare for future floods," said Carolina Salguero, PortSide founder.

"Understanding the potential of our waterways is the crux of PortSide’s mission, and Sandy amplified our mission to include understanding marine weather and the destructive potential of water."

Salguero detailed her own experiences during the 2012 superstorm that slammed New York City's coastline and ravaged Red Hook.

“After riding out hurricane Sandy on our ship to protect her from the storm, I and our Historian/Curator Peter Rothenberg came ashore to Red Hook," she said. "I was heartbroken to find the condition of our community."

What began as a popup aid station has become a resiliency program that earned PortSide a “Champions of Change” award from the Obama White House and Salgeuro an appointment to the NY Rising committee from the Governor's office.

Several elected officials gathered to celebrate the new plaque and the work PortSide has done for Brooklyn.

"This high-water mark sign sends a message that we must all continue to build community resiliency and fight climate change," said Rep. Nydia Velázquez. "This program helps alert residents and visitors alike to the dangers of storm surge and the need to be ready with a plan for the next storm."

"Red Hook’s water mark sign is a reminder of our community's resilience and how much more is needed to prepare for the next storm," added Councilman Carlos Menchaca. "The symbolic gesture must force us all to take seriously the urgency of this moment, and to do everything in our power to protect our most vulnerable neighbors from the worst effects of climate change."