By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

TERRACE PARK - Christina Maerki says she is paralyzed with fear when it rains.

The Windingbrook Lane resident's home has flooded several times in the past three years from a creek that runs behind it.

Maerki has lived in this eastern Hamilton County village her entire life. She wonders why flooding is now a problem for her and at least 50 other neighbors.

"We get so scared because it just comes right over our back yard and into the garage," said Maerki, 54, who estimated floods have caused more than $35,000 in damage to her home.

The problem prompted Village Council members late Tuesday to form a storm water committee that will look into the issue.

But some already suspect the cause of the problem - and plan to contact their neighbors to the north. Runoff from new development in Indian Hill could be the culprit, they say.

"We understand Indian Hill is having similar problems, so maybe we can work together and try to minimize the impact," Mayor Jay Gohman said.

Terrace Park is a natural drainage village, meaning residents use septic tanks, Police Chief Bob Bacon said. There are some storm sewers, but nothing that has been fully developed.

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.