Cincinnati City Council voted Aug. 5, to approve millions of dollars in emergency flood relief for east-side residents still dealing with damage from July's flash flooding, according to WLWT.

The vote came on Council's last day before a five-week summer recess. As we previewed before the vote, the relief package was the marquee item on the Aug. 5 agenda. The exact dollar figure approved has not been confirmed in official minutes, which were not yet posted. WLWT reported before the vote that Council was considering $2 million in relief for residents and businesses in Hyde Park, Oakley and Madisonville.

Federal FEMA aid is off the table. Hamilton County officials said the damage does not meet the threshold for federal assistance, and less than 1% of Ohio homes carry flood insurance.

More than 1,800 reports filed

The Metropolitan Sewer District received more than 1,800 sewer backup reports since the July storms, WCPO reported. More than 900 of those met eligibility requirements for cleaning services through MSD's backup program. Separately, 40 properties were directly affected when the Duck Creek floodgate failed on July 17, according to Cincinnati Fire Department Assistant Chief Matt Flagler.

As of July 31, the city said qualifying residents should start receiving checks within a few weeks. Residents who have not yet filed a claim can call the flood relief hotline at 513-323-7995, available 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Green infrastructure motion clears committee

Council also moved forward on longer-term fixes. On Tuesday, Aug. 4, the Climate, City Services and Infrastructure committee passed an amended motion directing the city administration to work with MSD to evaluate expanded green infrastructure solutions to reduce stormwater runoff. Councilmembers Walsh, Owens, Cramerding, James and Albi co-sponsored the measure.

Separately, Councilman Mark Jeffreys filed a motion calling for a 30-day after-action review and a 60-day deeper review of stormwater solutions, including watershed studies for Mill Creek and Duck Creek, according to Fox 19. A newly budgeted $500,000 in the Mill Creek Watershed was identified for near-term flood mitigation.

Residents press for urgency

At Tuesday's committee meeting, Hyde Park resident Jacob Bailey told council members his garage flooded three times in the roughly seven weeks since he moved to the neighborhood, including once with over a foot of water that destroyed a car and several thousand dollars of belongings.

"I think this could be the beginning of a death spiral for these communities because people will get tired of it, they will leave, and then these vibrant communities have been a key part of the city's personality and history, they're going to wither," Bailey said at the Aug. 4 meeting.

Councilmember Meeka Owens, who chairs the climate committee, said at the same meeting that flooding updates will become a standing agenda item. Her office has already sent questions to the community to gather input for future administration briefings.

Council is not expected to return from recess until mid-September. Residents with flood damage can reach the city's hotline at 513-323-7995.