After his home was hit by last month's flooding, George Wright had to shell out $4,000 to replace carpet. He would have preferred to spend it on one of his grandchildren's college tuition.

        The 70-year-old West Chester resident had to roll up his sleeves and rip out the soaked carpet in his basement damaged beyond repair.

Maxcare employees Mark Boeing (left), who is moving a storage unit, and Vern Henson, who is preparing to spray for mildew, work in the basement of a home damaged by flooding in July. (Dick Swaim photo) | ZOOM |

        “We just did it ourselves because all of the businesses we called were just backed up,” Mr. Wright said. “It was just a tragedy.”

        Mr. Wright is among hundreds of Tristate residents and businesses whose homes or companies were flooded July 17-18, creating headaches for them and a backlog for many businesses. As much as 8 inches of rain fell in three hours in parts of the region.

        Several Tristate companies — including carpet stores, plumbers and insurance agencies — are recovering from the recent flooding and working feverishly to help repair damaged homes.

        The downpour caused an estimated $3.3 million in uninsured losses to more than 100 homes, businesses and government property in Butler and Hamilton counties, said Dick Kimmins, a spokesman for the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

        He said most of the damage was flood-related, destroying furniture, carpet, appliances, clothes and vehicles as well as important documents such as business files.

        State Farm Insurance said it expects to receive an estimated 2,250 claims for damage to homes and another 500 claims for losses to cars in the Cincinnati area because of the storm.

        State Farm spokesman Brian Maze said Thursday that the insurer expects to pay out about $11.5 million to handle claims.

        The mess also has left some retailers and home-improvement businesses swamped.

        Mark Boeing, service manager at Maxcare, a unit of McSwain Flooring America, said business has been unusually brisk. Among its services, Maxcare treats and sanitizes flooring and walls.

        Mr. Boeing said Maxcare got 350 calls a day after the flooding and has done 75 jobs. He also said business is backed up into the second week of August, unheard of during most Augusts.

        “This is the busiest I've seen it during my eight years in the business,” Mr. Boeing said.

        Mr. Wright, who lives on a hill, said he didn't think he'd ever have to worry about flooding. His advice to residents: Consider obtaining flood protection.

        “I will probably switch insurance companies and get a rider that will offer that type of coverage,” he said.
       

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