Rising Waters, Rising Stakes: Ohio River Flooding and Business Impact
In early April, the Ohio River surged past flood stage, bringing its highest water levels in nearly three decades to parts of Cincinnati, New Richmond, and Clermont County. Riverfront parks were submerged, floodgates were activated, and streets in some communities were transformed into waterways.
While the visual damage is clear, the broader economic ripple effect is just beginning. Flooding of this magnitude disrupts supply chains, slows freight movement along I-275 and U.S. Route 52, and places additional stress on local infrastructure. For regional businesses, especially in logistics, construction, and tourism, even a few days of lost access or operations can mean weeks of recovery.
Ron Schmidt, owner of Drew’s on the River in Cincinnati, described the ordeal: “It was hell,” he said, noting that volunteers spent over 14 hours each day cleaning the restaurant, according to reports from WCPO Cincinnati. In New Richmond, Becca Light, co-owner of The Green Kayak, recounted the challenges: “It’s always a catastrophe to try and get the water out, the flood mud out, get everything cleaned up and see what you can save.”
As Ohio leaders consider resilience planning and water management, flood events like this act as a reminder: environmental volatility is not a long-past, or distant-future threat—it’s a present-day business risk.