Commack HS Students Design Metal Grate To Block Floodwater From Subway

Saving the Subways from Flooding

Kyle Mitra is on the left, Raymond Janis on right.Two Commack High School juniors are in the spotlight for designing a metal grate that would block almost all floodwater from reaching the subway tunnels, as it did during the storm surge caused by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Raymond Janis and Kyle Mitra, both Intel International Science and Engineering Fair Finalists, presented their design prototype at the recent competition in Phoenix, AZ, and are featured in the Society for Science online journal https://student.societyforscience.org/article/teens-invent-way-keep-floodwaters-out-subways. 

Floodwater enters the subway system via ventilation grates, which are at ground level. Using the same size grate dimensions as those in use now, Ray and Kyle created a scale model using a 3D printer that allows the grates to be closed. When the grate is open, there is air flow to the tunnels below. Unlike the grates used now, the teens’ invention, operated with a tamperproof key, allows the grate to be closed, blocking water from entering. 

Their research project, entitled “Combating Storm Surge Inundation in New York City Subway Stations” also won the RICOH Sustainability Award, the American Metertological Society Award, and the the Best in Fair, All Categories, at the State level competition (NYSSEF). The students’ invention would not be expensive to implement, and subways world-wide would benefit from using their system, as it is adaptable for use on any size grate.