By 2050, in less than 30 years, 300 million people will become climate refugees due to the rising sea level and coastal flooding (Lewis, 2019). Inhabitants of megacities such as New York, Mumbai or Shanghai will face enormous changes within their environment. The rising sea levels, hurricanes, and floods will transform life in coastal cities and necessitate a rethink of their approach to climate change. To comprehend the different strategies adopted by coastal cities, this study distinguishes between multimillion-dollar adaptive projects and smaller-scale climate change actions by the City of New York. In addressing this global issue, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has provided a summary of adaptation options for coastal areas and cities. These flood prevention strategies not only highlight the vulnerability of coastal cities to climate change but also vary in their management strategies, such as building new infrastructure, relocating key facilities, or preserving natural habitats. New York City, the most densely populated city in the U.S., has been facing flooding dated since 1788, and has a long list of historical records on this issue. The devastating superstorm of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which flooded the streets, subways, and tunnels, caused around $65 billion in damages, and led to the loss of many homes. This catastrophic event raised global warming awareness and spurred action to protect the city's waterfronts. From using leftover oyster shells as a natural flood protection system to funding multi-billion-dollar projects, New York City began taking steps to safeguard itself from natural disasters. In New York City's Lower East Side, Bjarke Ingels Group partnered with multiple engineers and planners to develop a proposal for a 10-mile protective zone along the waterfront. This project was conceptualized as a part of the Rebuild by Design Hurricane Sandy Competition in 2019. The central idea behind the project is to leverage elevated parklands, floodwalls, berms, and movable floodgates to shield communities and the $500 billion economic sector along the New York shore from the impact of natural disasters. Described by Bjarke Ingels “as the love-child of Robert Moses and Jane Jacobs," (Wainwright, 2015) the project represents a major step in the history of flood protection and social encouragement for residents to interact with the New York Dryline. This project aims to merge the urban planning principles of Jane Jacobs, who advocated for natural growth without demolition, and Robert Moses, who emphasized on redevelopment. It combines innovative ideas with a rich historical background of the city to examine why New York City only responded to natural disasters after a subsequent calamity and whether the city can formulate an all-encompassing strategy for managing natural hazards by drawing on its past experiences. Besides investigating the history of natural disasters in the city, this paper provides a critical evaluation of the proposed adaptation strategies throughout its history. RESEARCH QUESTION How has New York City's approach to natural hazards, particularly flooding caused by hurricanes and storm surges, evolved throughout history and what adaptations have been implemented to address these challenges?