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Wednesday Deadline For Reporting Hamilton County Flood Damage

flooded streets in the East End, house in distance
Bill Rinehart
/
WVXU
The Ohio River stayed high in several communities, including Cincinnati's East End, for days after it crested.

Time is running out to report flood damage in Hamilton County. Ryan McEwan with Emergency Management said the agency wants reports in by Wednesday so they can turn them over to the state by Friday.

"We have scheduled a preliminary damage assessment with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and the Ohio EMA for next week, and that's if the Ohio EMA determines there's been enough damage to request FEMA to come in to do that," McEwan told Hamilton County commissioners.

An inspection would determine if local damage is severe enough to qualify for state and or federal aid.

As of Monday morning, the Ohio River dropped about 15 feet since it crested at 60, Feb. 25. That's the highest it's been at Cincinnati since 1997.

McEwan said half of the communities and townships affected by last month's flood have either filed a report, or are working on it. The American Red Cross reported less than 50 residents called asking for help, and most requested a flood cleanup kit.

McEwan said a number of churches and communities groups are helping with the cleanup. "Those groups should be commended because it's really Hamilton County residents taking care of Hamilton County residents. We've all experienced the flooding in Hamilton County before. They know what it is to clean up after these events and everyone's working to take care of each other," McEwan said.

The Greater Cincinnati Occupational Health Center has classes on cleaning up flood damage. The next one is Friday afternoon at the Peaslee Neighborhood Center in Over-the-Rhine.

Bill Rinehart started his radio career as a disc jockey in 1990. In 1994, he made the jump into journalism and has been reporting and delivering news on the radio ever since.