Rising waters close riverside businesses

11:11 AM EST on Thursday, January 13, 2005

Buzz Parson's River Creek Inn was forced to shut down Tuesday. A sign that points to a deck you can't see, a closed sign and an empty parking lot.

This is the case for many businesses in Kentuckiana this week, but business owners aren't the only ones taking the hit.

Floodwaters continue to rise along the River Road corridor, causing many businesses to shut down.

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“It's about foot and half, maybe lose to two feet in the building,” says Andrew Masterson of Captain’s Quarters. The restaurant looks more like an island at this point.

"We've got a little motorized boat to get over there. It’s not too bad,” Masterson says.

Sky 11

Most riverfront businesses have been forced to shut down while the Ohio River swells its banks

An adventure that may be, but not the most practical way to run shop.

“We have about 50 employees that are out of work right now and they’re all eligible for unemployment benefits,” he says.

Unemployment insurance will pay about 70 to 80 percent of income to employees who file to receive those benefits.

The situation is similar on the other side of the Ohio River. Caesars Casino closed shop last Friday just as the waters began to rise. Close to 2,000 employees were told to go home.

"They will be able to use their paid time off bank to make up for scheduled time,” says Ed Garruto of Caesar’s. The paid time off that Caesars employees can use to cover their pay is basically their vacation days. Caesars did not want to talk to us on camera regarding the circumstance.

Regardless, many are anxious to get back to work, whether it’s running the poker tables on the grand boat at Caesars Casino or serving the Captain's special by-- not on -- the river. The gambling resort plans to stay closed until Friday and hopes to open on Saturday.

Captain's Quarters, on the other hand, will remain closed for another week and plans to reopen by next weekend.

“Eager to get back to work, obviously because they need money but also because they wanna help,” Masterson says.

Web story produced by Jay Ditzer.