KY Restaurant Owner Protects Building From Flooding by Flooding it

Yes, you read that correctly. I also had to do a double take as I was doing my nightly TikTok scroll. I came across a video of a restaurant I ate at several times while living in Louisville, except it was flooded.

I know folks prepare as much as they can, but these severe acts of nature are just wild.  It is heartbreaking and honestly surreal to see so much flooding. This area is close to breaking the record held by a flood from 1937. The waters are so dirty and full of debris that when they recede, there will be tons of cleanup needed.

There is one Kentucky business owner who has shared his genius trick for protecting his restaurant. I gotta admit, it's pretty "out there" but if you have ever dealt with flooding before and have the means to try this out, it could save you a lot of trouble. In an effort to keep flood waters from entering the building, Andrew Masterson, co-owner of Captain's Quarters Riverside Grille in the Prospect area, has gotten creative.

It's a science experiment in real life, honestly. After emptying the appliances, the electrical system, and anything else that could be stored away, Andrew had his crew turn on the faucets and flood the restaurant with water from the tap. Filling the building with clean water keeps the filthy flood waters from entering.

Faucets from the sinks and a well water pump poured six feet of fresh water into the restaurant.

@cnn Andrew Masterson, co-owner of Captain's Quarters Riverside Grille near Louisville, told CNN he deliberately filled his riverfront business with fresh water to keep dirty floodwaters out amid widespread flooding in Kentucky. #cnn #news #kentucky ♬ original sound - CNN

Someone in the comments said, "By filling it with clean water on purpose, he reduces structural damage by balancing pressure. Avoids contamination from sewage and debris. Makes clean-up easier, since it’s just clean water."

Apparently, they have been doing this for years and have the process down pat. The building itself is made of cement cinderblocks and tile, which helps safely dry things out. Folks on their Facebook page who visit the restaurant regularly say once the waters recede, Captain's Quarters will be back to business quickly.

Unfortunately, it seems as though the waters have risen a little higher than hoped for this strategy to work 100%. Things are starting to get a little murky inside the restaurant. Hopefully, the tide will turn soon and levels will begin to go down. Once Captain's Quarters is back open for business, we should plan a road trip to support them. You can follow the situation for updates on their Facebook page. 

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