Restaurant Floats Away on Flooded Ohio River
A total of 83 people, including former Cincinnati Bengals star Cris Collinsworth, had to be rescued from a restaurant that floated down the flooded Ohio River Friday night.
Ruby's Waterfront restaurant drifted up to 100 yards on the Ohio River shortly after 10 p.m. EST Friday, according to the Associated Press.
The restaurant, located along the waterfront opposite the city of Cincinnati, normally serves patrons as it floats on the Ohio River, but in a more secure manner than on Friday night.
The restaurant failed to travel any farther downstream since its rear anchor line remained attached and because the restaurant became wedged up against the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge, one of the many bridges that connect Kentucky with Cincinnati.
Firefighters used a makeshift bridge of ladders to rescue the 83 people aboard the restaurant, including former Bengals wide receiver and NBC pro football commentator, Cris Collinsworth.
When the restaurant began to drift downstream, a nearby gage indicated that the level of the Ohio River was 55.21 feet. Flood stage at this location is 52.0 feet.
Moderate flood stage is 56.0 feet, which the Ohio River at Cincinnati is expected to reach within the next couple of days.
Like many rivers across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, recent rounds of heavy rain contributed to the rise of the Ohio River.
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