On Earth Day, the city launched a new program in Brooklyn to give residents tools they need to protect their flood-prone neighborhoods. NY1's Borough Reporter Jeanine Ramirez has the story.

With heavy downpours, the Gowanus neighborhood in Brooklyn tends to see several feet of water fill its streets, flooding basements and causing damage to ground floor properties.

According to city officials, the most 311 calls from Brooklynites complaining of flooding come from Canarsie.

"We've been having problems. The water has been coming and circling here," said Neville Toomer, the vice president of the East 84th Block Association. "If you don't sweep it away, it'll stay there for weeks."

"If it's a hard rain, most times you get the backups from the sewers and the water in the basements," said Willie Smith, a member of the same block association.

Now the city is recruiting Canarsie residents to help clear problem drains.   

"We can't be at every one of 148,000 catch basins in the middle of every rain storm," said Emily Lloyd, the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Lloyd and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams launched a pilot program Friday called "Adopt-A-Catch Basin."

They're teaming up with block associations, business improvement districts, and other community-based groups to remove debris that block storm drains.

"It is a way of having local residents play a role in improving the services of government. And this is so easy," Adams said.

The city is expected to supply the trash bags and plastic gloves, and alert their community partners when a rainstorm is coming and point them to problem locations.

Residents are expected to provide the labor and go out to clear the drains. They say they welcome the coordinated effort.

"Well, any help is good," Smith said.

"Every little thing counts, because even us as homeowners — if you buy garbage bags, it costs money," said Lucina Clarke, the treasurer of the East 84th Block Association. "So if we get the supplies and the resources to help us maintain and keep our block safe and clean and not flooded, that's great."

The neighborhoods of Canarsie, Sunset Park, Gowanus, and Prospect-Lefferts Gardens are part of the pilot program.

Officials say they hope to expand the initiative.