LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Flooding continues to rise throughout Kentuckiana as more winter weather moves into the region, leaving businesses and emergency crews scrambling to stay ahead of the water.
In downtown Louisville, the Ohio River is expected to crest by Thursday night. The rising water threatens businesses like Captain’s Quarters, a riverside restaurant familiar with flooding but facing new challenges this time around.
“This is our 14th flood that I have had to deal with since probably the late nineties, so we’ll get through it,” said co-owner Andrew Masterson. “Every time we have a flood, we learn something new, and we haven’t had a flood in this type of temperature before, so we are running into a few things we didn’t anticipate.”
Employees moved all furniture and appliances out of the restaurant on Sunday, preparing for an expected 2.5 to 3 feet of water inside the building.
Meanwhile, near downtown, Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) crews closed the flood wall at 10th Street and River Road for the first time in eight years.
“Once the walls go in, we have to activate the various pump stations,” said MSD Operations Manager Tony Parrott. “We have 16 flood pump stations, and by the end of tomorrow, about 12 of them will be operating.”
Flooding isn’t the only concern. In Jefferson Memorial Forest, last weekend’s rain and snow caused part of Mitchell Hill Road to collapse, sending a car tumbling down with it. A guardrail stopped the vehicle from falling further, but officials are urging caution in the area.
On River Road, LG&E crews used boats to reach homes on Juniper Beach, shutting off gas and electricity as the water levels rise.
At Captain’s Quarters, Masterson hopes to avoid that step.
“When the water covers the road, we’ll have to hop in that John boat behind me and travel out here to make sure everything is safe and secure,” he said. “We’re ready for the water, and we’re ready to get back to work as soon as it recedes.”
Masterson said the restaurant aims to reopen within a week after the flooding subsides.
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