Abstract:On July 20, 2021, an extraordinary rainstorm struck Zhengzhou, Henan Province, marked a new intensity record over China mainland. This rainstorm exceeded the capacity of drainage and flood protection systems in the urban districts and its surrounding rural areas of the city, and thus caused extensive inundation and flooding. This is an extraordinary severe natural disaster with heavy casualties and property loss. To have a broad view over the whole country and to look into the future for rainstorm disaster prevention, we proposed the following suggestions in this study. First, we must recognize the significant impact of the climate change and rapid urbanization on the prevention and mitigation of urban rainstorm disasters, and sharpen our risk awareness under the changing environments. Second, we should put rainstorm disaster prevention as a rigid constraint for urban space arrangement and development, revise the related planning correspondingly, and construct the urban infrastructure system for disaster prevention at a faster pace. Third, we should take multiple measures comprehensively to promote emergency management, for rainstorm disaster prevention, and mitigation of cities in a scientific way.