The Ohio River reached about 56.5 feet in New Richmond on March 16, after a high of about 57.72 feet over the weekend.

The Ohio River reached about 56.5 feet in New Richmond on March 16, after a high of about 57.72 feet over the weekend.
By Kelly Doran and Kristin Rover
Sun staff

Clermont County was impacted by flooding in the village of New Richmond and in other towns near rivers and streams throughout the county last week.

Pam Haverkos, Clermont County Emergency Management Agency director, warned residents about the potential for flooding during commissioners’ March 11 meeting.

With 1-2 inches of rain forecasted for Friday and Saturday, Haverkos said the Ohio River could go into flood stage.

Haverkos said she would be meeting with the county’s response partners to discuss roadway impacts and other safety plans.

Crews pre-staged roadway signage so that they could easily close roads as needed, she said.

“One thing I want to remind people is don’t drive through flooded areas and make sure your kids aren’t playing in streams and creeks,” Haverkos said. “It’s very dangerous.”

The Ohio River reached 57.72 feet at the Cincinnati gauge, said New Richmond Administrator Greg Roberts. The levels in New Richmond are within 3/10 of that gauge.

The village met on Saturday at an emergency council meeting and evoked an emergency proclamation, which gives the village the power to protect life and property.

An emergency proclamation also allows the village to ask for resident cooperation to accomplish those goals, Roberts said. It is the first step to be eligible for disaster assistance from the state and federal government if it gets to that point.

Once the village hears a projection of the river crest, the council members will evoke the proclamation so that documentation is prepared in case things become worse, Roberts said.

The village will remain under an emergency until the streets are clear and the river reaches either minor flood levels or is out of flood stage completely, Roberts said.

Five homes were affected by water in their living space and had either gas or electric or both shut off. The residents of those homes voluntarily evacuated, Roberts said.

Roberts worked with Duke Energy to evaluate the safety of the homes with water in them. The residents were helpful and cooperative.

The village closed eight streets over the weekend, but by Monday two or three were opened again, Roberts said.

In addition to roads in New Richmond, there were also roads closed in the village of Neville, Pierce Township, Ohio Township, Monroe Township, Washington Township and Miami Township, according to Clermont County Communications Director Kathleen Williams.

A Red Cross shelter was also opened at New Richmond High School, according to Williams, for families impacted by the flooding.

“I think the village and our fire and EMS services did an exemplary job,” Roberts said.

When the river reaches 52 feet, it is a considered a minor flood. Once the river reaches 56 feet, the flood is considered moderate. At 60 feet, the flood is considered major, Roberts said.

The flooding was good for business, however.

Businesses on Front Street had their biggest business days in recent memory on Friday and Saturday, as visitors visited New Richmond to see the river, Roberts said.

“We had Cincinnati and national media attention for what we would consider a moderate flood,” Roberts said.

The last time the Ohio River was over 60 feet was in 1997, when it reached 64 feet, he said. Because of that flood, Roberts feels the village has a better plan for floods.

Over a 200-year period, the village has had two floods in a year 15 times, Roberts said.

Roberts does not expect the rain forecasted for the end of the week to affect the river, however, with the river this high there’s always a chance.