HAMILTON — "We lost everything — again," said New Miami resident Carl Lipps. Standing on his front porch, looking at the mud and mess left by flood waters Wednesday, March 19, Lipps could only shake his head in frustration. It's his third flood in four years. It's been a really rough week for Lipps and his wife, Ursula. Their son died Tuesday, March 18, "and we were flooded on Wednesday morning as we were going to the funeral home to make arrangements," Ursula Lipps said. Even though they're expecting out-of-town guests for their daughter's wedding today, March 21, the couple hasn't started cleaning up from the flood. They have to wait for the insurance agent to photograph the damage. The Lipps said they have learned from floods past — in January 2004 and January 2005. Their furnace sits on cement blocks and when their carpet was destroyed in a previous flood, they replaced it with ceramic tile, which is easier to clean, Carl Lipps said. Butler County Emergency Management Director William Turner said crews were surveying homes like the Lipps' that were damaged in the flood. He said that if more than 25 homes have suffered a 40 percent loss, the county is eligible for state assistance. Gov. Ted Strickland was in Warren County Thursday night assessing flood damage. Strickland said it was the first of many flood-ravaged areas he plans to visit in the region. Sunshine and a light breeze Thursday aided the water's recession. Turner also said that residents should clean up their homes as soon as possible to discourage the growth of mold and mildew. The Butler County Health Department distributed information Thursday about how to properly clean up from the flood. The National Weather Service said Thursday night the level of the Great Miami River was almost four feet lower than when it crested above flood stage Wednesday night and is predicted to decline steadily over the next few days. Source: http://www.oxfordpress.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/03/20/Hjn032108floodcleanup.html
