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Flooding could cost Clifton Mill thousands

3.5 million lights turned off while the business repairs water damage.

Anthony Satariano, co-owner of Clifton Mill, said the local attraction could lose thousands of dollars because the displays were damaged by floods. Officials hope to have repairs finished by the weekend.

Marshall Gorby/Staff Photo Anthony Satariano, co-owner of Clifton Mill, said the local attraction could lose thousands of dollars because the displays were damaged by floods. Officials hope to have repairs finished by the weekend.

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer Updated 11:57 AM Wednesday, December 7, 2011

CLIFTON — At 6 p.m. there was no music and no blazing lights — just darkness and the sound of gushing water.

The 3.5 million lights at Clifton Mill were off Tuesday after the Little Miami River swelled its banks, ripping through its displays and damaging thousands of strands. Closing due to flooding for one day alone could cost the owners upwards of $4,000 because of the number of guests they’ll have to turn away.

“I’ll lose all the gate revenue from tonight’s customers not to mention the damage, and there’s always the small possibility about tomorrow,” said co-owner Anthony Satariano on Tuesday.

He planned to survey the damage and buy “every strand of lights” he could find to repair damage to the mill and waterfall displays. While the restaurant remains open, the lights could stay off until this weekend, Satariano said.

“If you want to have a sandwich and see what high water looks like, come on out,” he said.

Clifton Mill was just one of hundreds of areas affected by high water. Dozens of Clark County homes were flooded along Lower Valley Pike, and county Engineer Johnathan Burr said the road will remain closed today.

Parts of Spangler, Mitchell, Osborne and Snyder roads are closed as well due to high water.

“The bigger problem is just being on the already-saturated ground, there is nowhere for the water to go,” Burr said.

Local weather watcher Dick Greber said the area has received 3.72 inches of rain in the past few days — 2.82 inches of which fell between Sunday and Monday. But it’s not the worst the area’s seen: The wettest December on record was in 1991, when 8.77 inches of precipitation fell, he said.

Walt Sower spent most of last night and the day before pumping water out of his basement at his home near Lower Valley Pike. His family has lived there since the 1950s so they’re used to the flooding.

“In 1959 we had 14 inches inside of the house,” he said. “I don’t let it get past eight to 10 inches. I’ve got a pulse furnace down there, and one year it got over that and it cost me $700.”

With no rain in the immediate forecast, Burr said what the area really needs is time to dry out.

“You can see where the water’s been up to on the posts and also along the river and it’s coming down now,” he said. “It should allow this rainfall to drain away.”

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