At the Intersection of Science, Policy, and Community: The FloodNet NYC Community Engagement Strategy

Urban flooding poses significant risks to public health and community resilience, highlighting the need for collaborative approaches that integrate science, policy, and local knowledge. This paper outlines the community engagement and dissemination strategy of FloodNet NYC, a collaborative project launched in 2020 involving researchers from the City University of New York and New York University alongside New York City agencies, including the Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice, Department of Environmental Protection, and Office of Technology & Innovation. FloodNet develops real-time urban flood monitoring tools, making flood data and community-driven resources accessible and actionable for residents, community organizations, government agencies, and researchers. Guided by community-based participatory research principles, the project co-developed a community engagement and participatory dissemination strategy that is integrated throughout the research process rather than treated as a final step. We highlight three participatory pathways — community outreach, education, and action — that ensure that data products and educational materials produced by FloodNet are created and shared collaboratively with community members in flood-prone neighborhoods. This approach yields both successes and challenges, demonstrating how co-produced and iterative dissemination deepens integration of scientific, experiential, and civic knowledge. This paper presents a practical model for public health and urban climate resilience professionals to engage communities in research.