City Prepares for Forecasted Flooding

Updates as of 4/6/2025

The City of Cincinnati is continuing to respond to community needs as the Ohio River floods its banks. The National Weather Service predicts the river will crest at 60 feet early Monday morning. The City has activated the Emergency Operations Center and it will remain active through the week.

Emergency crews made two rescues after drivers disregarded barricades and drove around them. Residents are reminded to exercise caution while driving and to respect road closures when in place. If you come across high water on a road, turn around. Do not drive through flood waters.

You can find updates from earlier in the weekend below:

• April 4, 2025 Updates
• April 5, 2025 Updates

 

Today’s Focus

• Extending road closures on Kellogg Ave. and Mehring Way
• Ensuring the public is safe from the rising floodwaters
• Activating emergency shelter in collaboration with the Red Cross
• Rescuing drivers who have driven around barricades and into high water

 

Road Closures

Kellogg Ave. between Delta and Apple Hill is closed. Mehring Way is completely closed to traffic. Additional road closures may occur depending upon the river level.

 

Emergency Shelter Opened

The City and the Red Cross have opened an emergency shelter for community members displaced by flooding. If you need shelter, call 1-800-RED-CROSS and they will direct you to the closest shelter.

 

Cincinnati Parks

All riverfront parks including Smale, Yeatman’s Cove, and Sawyer Point, will become inaccessible because of rapidly rising floodwaters. While we understand the desire to observe and document this flooding, please stay out of the area for your own safety. The area south of Mehring from Central Avenue to the Boathouse will be filled with debris, potentially unsafe water quality, and fast-moving floodwaters. In addition, lighting fixtures have been removed from the area, lowering visibility at night.  

Additionally, California Woods is closed as floodwater has covered the roadway and made the park inaccessible.

 

Use 311 for Non-emergency Needs

311Cincy is the City of Cincinnati's overall non-emergency, customer service system. 

You can open a request 24/7 by calling 311 or by using the 311Cincy website and mobile app.

 

Installation of Flood Gates

Due to the rising level of the Ohio River, the Greater Cincinnati Water Works’ Stormwater Management Utility (SMU) installed the flood gate on the western end of Mehring Way on Saturday. SMU installed the Carr Street flood gate on Wednesday, April 2.

 

Sign up for Emergency Alerts

CincyAlert, powered by Smart911, is the official public alerting and emergency notification system used by the City of Cincinnati. CincyAlert and Smart911, users can choose from different alert categories to keep themselves and their families safe. CincyAlert can notify users via text message and email for most alert categories, as well as phone call notification for urgent emergency alerts. Sign up for CincyAlert and Smart911, and then download the Smart911 app to receive timely and actionable emergency alerts via email, text, or voice message.

Through this same system, you are also able to sign up for alerts issued by the Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency. Hamilton County uses the same system to power Alert HC, the county's emergency alert system.

 

Sewer Backup Resources 

If you experience a potential sewer backup in your home or business:

• You can report a potential sewer backup 24/7 to MSD. You can report a potential sewer backup 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone at
  (513) 352-4900 or online at msdgc.org/sbu. You must report your backup to MSD within 48 hours of discovery to be potentially eligible for reimbursement of qualifying property damages.
• MSD investigates every report of a potential sewer backup to determine whether it’s eligible for assistance through our Sewer Backup (SBU) Program.
• MSD provides professional cleaning services at no charge to eligible property owners and tenants.
• MSD offers reimbursement for qualifying damages from sewer backups caused by the MSD public sewer. If you intend to submit a claim to MSD for property damage, please thoroughly document damage to your property with photographs and inventory lists.
• When a sewer backup or water intrusion is not caused by the MSD public sewer, the property owner is often responsible for the cleanup and/or repairs.

For more information about MSD’s Sewer Backup program, please visit msdgc.org/sbu.

 

Barrier Dam Activation

The Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) and Stormwater Management Utility (SMU) have been diligently monitoring the level of the Ohio River. Based on the latest river forecast that predicts the Ohio River will reach 60 feet on Sunday, GCWW/SMU activated flood operations at the Mill Creek Barrier Dam facility Friday evening.

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