Her Business Flooded. So She Took to the Streets, With a Broom.

Whenever it rains, Valeen Bhat puts on her waders and her signature hot pink raincoat to clear debris from storm drains in Brooklyn. This time of year, there’s a lot. Fall is for foliage. But foliage falls. And in New York, leaves wreak havoc by clogging storm drains, which can produce devastating flooding. Ms. Bhat, the owner of Private Picassos in Clinton Hill, learned this the hard way a year ago. On a Thursday in October, a sudden downpour inundated her art studio for children, trapping teachers and students, until firefighters rescued them.

With global warming, rain is falling faster and harder, and overwhelming the city’s century-old sewers, most of which were not designed for the furious and swift storms now common in New York. Since last fall’s deluge, which caused two deaths in the city, Ms. Bhat has been spreading the gospel of leaf clearance. The task is especially crucial in elevated spots, because drains that clog uphill lead to flooding downhill. Hardly a Cassandra, Ms. Bhat is simply being a responsible neighbor and business owner in the era of climate change, said Lisa F. Garcia, the commissioner of the city’s Department of Environmental Protection.

“As leaves begin to fall, we appreciate when all New Yorkers step in and do their part by clearing leaves and debris from storm drains near their homes and businesses,” Ms. Garcia said in a statement. “A few minutes of effort can make a real difference.” We are having trouble retrieving the article content. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.

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