Pemberville Recovers After One of Worst Floods on Record

Floodwaters crested at over 14 feet, marking the third-highest level ever seen in the village.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 3:06am

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The Village of Pemberville, Ohio is recovering after experiencing one of the worst floods in its history. Officials say the Portage River crested at over 14 feet on Friday, the third-highest level on record. Businesses like the newly opened Casa Rio restaurant suffered significant damage, while residents are dealing with costly cleanup efforts. Relief efforts are underway, with the American Red Cross and FEMA coordinating with local leaders to assist the community.

Why it matters

Pemberville is a small village that has faced major flooding challenges in the past, and this latest flood event has caused substantial damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. The community's ability to recover will be crucial for its long-term resilience and economic stability.

The details

The floodwaters reached a peak of over 14 feet on Friday, marking the third-highest level ever recorded in Pemberville. Mayor Carol Bailey, a longtime resident, said this was the deepest of the highest floodwaters she has seen in 42 years. By Saturday, the water levels had dropped to around 8.5 feet, and projections show the river returning to its normal 5-foot level by Thursday or sooner. The flooding has caused significant damage, with the newly opened Casa Rio restaurant estimating losses in the thousands of dollars after its basement was filled with water. Residents like Ben White have also had to spend hundreds of dollars on cleanup and replacing damaged equipment.

  • The Portage River crested at over 14 feet on Friday, April 4, 2026.
  • By Saturday, April 5, 2026, water levels had dropped to around 8.5 feet.
  • Projections show the river returning to its normal 5-foot level by Thursday, April 10, 2026.

The players

Carol Bailey

The mayor of Pemberville, Ohio, and a longtime resident who has witnessed the village's flooding challenges over the past 42 years.

Freddy Jimenez

The manager of the Casa Rio Mexican restaurant in Pemberville, which suffered significant damage to its basement and supplies due to the flooding.

Ben White

A Pemberville resident who has had to spend hundreds of dollars on cleanup and replacing damaged equipment in his home due to the flood.

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What they’re saying

“This is about the third highest flood Pemberville has ever seen, but this is the deepest of the highest floodwaters that I've seen in 42 years of living here, so it's pretty remarkable.”

— Carol Bailey, Mayor of Pemberville

“Maybe here we have 2,000 or 1,000. I don't know. We check out everything for the boxes is bad. So, probably I think maybe 2,000 or 1,000.”

— Freddy Jimenez, Manager, Casa Rio restaurant

“I'm sure it's in the hundreds of dollars for sure of what I'm having to clean up. I've already spent $140 today buying a new mop bucket because I wanted something that was a little bit more fast to keep up with the water leaks and stuff.”

— Ben White, Pemberville resident

What’s next

Relief efforts are underway, with the American Red Cross already in the village and local leaders coordinating with additional disaster response organizations, including FEMA, to assist the community with recovery efforts.

The takeaway

This flood event has highlighted the ongoing challenges Pemberville faces with severe weather and the need for continued investment in infrastructure and disaster preparedness to protect the community's homes, businesses, and overall resilience.