Ohio city begins flood cleanup as Ohio River drops

CINCINNATI (AP) — Authorities in Cincinnati are taking down floodgates and doing cleanup work as Ohio River floodwaters recede.

The National Weather Service says the river has slowly dropped more than two feet since cresting Sunday at 57.7 feet. Forecasters expect it to remain above the 52-foot flood stage until Thursday afternoon.

Cincinnati officials said Tuesday that many streets near the river remained closed. The Metropolitan Sewer District said one floodgate would likely stay up until Thursday, while two were being removed Tuesday.

Melted snow and rainfalls caused flooding that swamped roads, businesses and homes in low-lying areas of the Cincinnati region that includes southeast Indiana and northern Kentucky. At least half a dozen homes were evacuated, and dozens of businesses closed due to flooding or closed access roads.

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