Ohio River streams and tributaries in Adams and Brown counties and the Licking River in Pendleton County jumped their banks. Three days later, the Ohio would rise to the highest it had been in 30 years. The Licking ballooned to 24 feet above flood stage, slamming a wall of water 12 feet high into the Pendleton County towns of Falmouth and Butler. The Ohio crested about a week later at 64.7 feet, swamping parts of downtown Cincinnati and the river towns of New Richmond, Moscow and Neville in Ohio and Aurora and Lawrenceburg in Indiana. The task of pulling out what was lost under the rivers' rampage seemed incomprehensible for the 6,000 or so people whose lives were affected.
Towns reassemble Little by little, Tristate flood victims are at various stages of rebuilding.
In New Richmond, residents and officials hope a federal program to buy or elevate homes will reduce future flood damage. About 460 structures in the village sat in 6 to 9 feet of water during the flood. Searching for ways to handle such a crisis better next time will be part of flood plans being prepared by officials of New Richmond and neighboring Moscow. ''We will be looking at things like partnering families with other families who don't have a second floor,'' said Robin Hendley, Moscow administrator. In Adams County, about 30 homes still need repairs, said Paul Howelett, director of the county's emergency management agency. Nearly 100 homes were fixed.