High water is lapping at homes in Harrison on Friday, Aug. 14 as residents brace for even more rain in the afternoon.
Late Thursday night, residents of multiple streets were ordered to evacuate their homes as the Whitewater River overflowed its banks on the Ohio-Indiana border. A shelter has been established at the Harrison Community Center at 300 George St. and more than half a dozen agencies have swarmed the town of about 14,000 people.
Harrison City Administrator Kim Downey said Friday morning that some homes are likely to suffer water damage, but none are completely underwater. There have been no injuries reported, she said.
Downey said about 18 people are staying at the community center. It is unclear when they will be able to return to their
homes.
In the early morning hours, crews helped with at least eight evacuations, but Downey said these were proactive and most took place in driveways in advance of more serious entrapments.
The Whitewater River also flooded Brookville and West Harrison in Indiana. In Brookville, the river went from about 3 feet deep on Wednesday morning to cresting at over 25 feet deep at 9 p.m. Aug. 13. The National Weather Service called it a "historic rise."
Down river in Harrison, the river is expected in crest Friday afternoon.
[8:01 PM] Historic rises on the Whitewater River at Brookville are expected to cause flooding issues downstream in West Harrison, IN and Harrison, OH pic.twitter.com/lGCjmGuKZ6
— NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) August 14, 2026
In addition to street flooding in Harrison, soccer fields near the river had been transformed into a lake with some parts under 3 feet of water.
Around 8 a.m. Friday, crews from half a dozen neighboring fire departments along with Hamilton County Urban Search & Rescue and other agencies gathered at the Main Street fire station and shared doughnuts.
The search and rescue team's Aerial Reconnaissance Unit had been flying drones with thermal imaging capabilities since 3 a.m. searching for stranded people and assessing the situation.
Downey said the first responders intend to stay until they confirm the water is going down. The Red Cross is expected to arrive later in the day.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: At least 18 displaced in 'historic' Whitewater River flood in Harrison
