Photos: Aurora prepares for Ohio River flooding

“I’m expecting about 3 feet of water in the restaurant"

(AURORA, Ind.) — It was the first time in about five years that the J. Miller Steak Company didn’t have any customers at 9 p.m. on a Saturday night. 

The steakhouse sat empty as owner Tim Miller removed tables, chairs, kitchen equipment, the bar and doors from the historic building. 

“It took us two or three years to bring everything into the restaurant and just about six hours to completely clean it out, the only thing left are some pictures on the wall,” Miller said. 

He is one of several business owners in downtown Aurora preparing for flood waters from the rising Ohio River. 

“I’m expecting about 3 feet of water in the restaurant. But, right now all you can do is wait and hope it isn’t worse than what they’re predicting,” he added. 

Here are some photos of businesses provided by Greg Rahe

City officials also spent a rainy Saturday getting ready for the impending threat. 

They urged some of the most at-risk residents to evacuate while also making sure their own families are safe as well.

Aurora City Councilmember Michelle Jarvis was among the community members who prepared and distributed approximately 1,500 sandbags on Saturday. 

She was impressed with the amount of volunteerism, especially from South Dearborn High School student-athletes. 

“We had people from the baseball, football and soccer teams and probably several other groups. Whenever there is a cleanup, whether it is river-related or not, the coaches are very good about getting the kids involved,” Jarvis said. 

She added that she saw at least one 4-H member as well. 

“There were young kids, high schoolers and all the way up to adults making sandbags today,” she said. 

Here are some photos Jarvis took on Saturday:

Jarvis and her husband have lived all over Indiana and said yesterday's volunteerism is an example of what makes Aurora special.

“One of the things that standout about Aurora is that we all come together when there are people in need,” Jarvis said. 

The Ohio River is expected to crest at 60 feet on Monday and into Tuesday. It has only reached that height one time in the last 28 years. 

Back at the J. Miller Steak company, Tim Miller is waiting to see what happens but did tell his grandchildren, “Come down on Monday and we can take the boat through the restaurant.”