The Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati has received more than 1,500 reports of sewer backups and basement flooding from the back-to-back storms that hammered Hyde Park, Oakley and Mount Lookout, according to WVXU reporting published July 23. That figure is up sharply from the 900-plus reports MSD had logged as of July 20.
MSD officials have characterized the July 17 storm as a potential 1,000-year occurrence, meaning it has roughly a 0.1 percent chance of happening in any given year. Five to six inches of rain fell on the East Side in roughly one hour that night, overwhelming a combined sewer system that carries both stormwater and wastewater in the same pipes. A second storm struck the same neighborhoods July 21, re-flooding properties already in cleanup.
"No modern sewer system is designed to handle a storm of this magnitude," MSD stated in a memo published Tuesday, July 21.
As of Wednesday evening, MSD crews had completed about 900 of the 1,500-plus property investigations, according to WVXU.
Floodgate failure confirmed
The city's investigation found the Madison Road floodgate at Duck Creek failed to close automatically during the July 17 storm because of a mechanical malfunction, Axios Cincinnati reported July 24. City Manager Sheryl Long said routine maintenance had been performed, pushing back on allegations the gate had been neglected. Even with a functioning floodgate, officials said the volume of rain still would have caused widespread flooding.
Long acknowledged frustration among residents Thursday: "I understand that for some people our best effort isn't good enough, at least not yet."
Damage across the neighborhoods
Oakley resident Paige Scheidler had invested roughly $20,000 in flood prevention measures before the July 17 storm filled her basement with five feet of water. She told WCPO on July 18 that she would no longer keep furniture in the basement.
Neko Sushi near Hyde Park Square flooded for the fifth time since 2018, according to owner Yeon Kim. Zip's Cafe on Delta Avenue in Mount Lookout, which had just celebrated its 100th anniversary, also closed after flooding.
Kristen Folzenlogen, owner of Poeme stationery store near Hyde Park Square, told Axios on July 24 that the city cannot expect a business district to keep returning to normal without a long-term plan. "Who's going to want to move or run their business here?" she said.
What residents should know about MSD's backup program
Under standard program rules, homeowners must contact MSD within 48 hours of noticing water to be eligible for the Sewer Backup Assistance Program. Given the scale of the event, residents who missed that window should still call to ask about eligibility. MSD spokesperson Deb Leonard said residents should take photos, save receipts and allow MSD crews to inspect the property.
Not all flooding qualifies. Water entering through doors, windows or foundation cracks during heavy rain, or backups caused by a clogged private sewer lateral, are not covered.
To file: call 513-352-4900 or go to msdgc.org.
Drying and restoring a flooded basement runs $3,000 to $5,000, according to MSD guidance. Contaminated sewer water damage can exceed $10,000.
Residents can also report debris or drainage concerns through 311, by calling 513-765-1212 from outside city limits, or via 311cincy.org.
Emergency declaration in effect through September 15
Mayor Aftab Pureval's emergency declaration, issued July 21, remains in effect through September 15 and authorizes the city to pursue state and federal disaster assistance. Pureval has said the city is working on a grant fund for residents and businesses, though no dollar amount has been announced.
As of July 24, city officials had no long-term plan to prevent future flooding of this magnitude on the East Side, according to Axios Cincinnati. Folzenlogen put it bluntly: "Who's going to want to move or run their business here?"
