LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville-based nonprofit is helping restaurants along the Ohio River forced to close because of flooding this week.

Apron Inc. said there are at least eight or nine restaurants along the Ohio River being impacted by the rising water. 

Those restaurants include River Road BBQ, KingFish, River House, The Pine Room and Harrods Creek Tavern. The total number of employees out of work right now is somewhere between 100 to 125.

"To say it's overwhelming is an understatement," Krissy Davis, River Road BBQ owner said. "It hurts. It's painful. It doesn't get easier with each flood, but this is the worst we've ever seen."

Apron Inc. said there are at least eight or nine restaurants along the Ohio River being impacted by the rising water.

In February, Apron Inc. helped employees of Captain's Quarters after flooding left them without work. At that time, employees were given about $750 per week. But the nonprofit said Monday this round of flooding could have a much larger impact.

"This time around, I think this is going to be a longer session with the flooding, said Gary Fox, president of Apron Inc. "I imagine it's going to be at least a week, if not 10 days. So I think we're going to be doing larger grants, around $1,000 or so."

Pictures below show the change in water levels over the course of the flooding. 

On Sunday, the water was up to the seats of the picnic benches outside River Road BBQ. By Monday, it was about halfway up the windows, and Wednesday it was almost up to the red awning.

"We're gonna be able to tell on the windows how high it gets up but it's almost completely covered all our windows, so we're gonna have to be mud slinging," Davis said. "We're gonna grab the pressure washers. We're gonna get a dehumidifier. We're just gonna dry the whole thing out and get going."

On the other side of the river in Jeffersonville, Harry's Taphouse and Kitchen has been spared, but one of its employees lives in Utica, a small town with major flooding.

She has six feet of water in her home. Harry's is doing what it can but also credits Apron Inc for its help.

"It's a really great organization that has stepped in and has said okay just 'cause you work for a locally owned restaurant, we care about you, too," James Corbin, Harry's co-owner said.

And when the restaurants along River Road in Louisville are back open for business, they'll need that care, too.

"I can't imagine what they're going through, but my heart goes out to those guys and just stay strong and again when they are able to open, I hope everyone goes over and supports them, because they're gonna need every bit of it," Corbin said.

Anyone wishing to help Apron Inc.'s mission can donate directly to them on their website by clicking here.

Brownsboro Hardware is also doing a fundraiser this weekend, with part of its sales benefitting Apron Inc.

According to the nonprofit's website, Apron Inc. was created in 2011 by a group of people with "ties to the local restaurant community." The nonprofit's mission is to "provide temporary, limited financial relief to professional food and beverage workers in the Louisville, Kentucky, Metro area who work at locally-owned establishments who are experiencing financial distress due to illness, accident, emergency, or catastrophic event through no fault of their own."

There are also opportunities to volunteer with Apron Inc. To learn more about the nonprofit or volunteering, click here.

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