Cincinnati City Council has approved an additional $1 million for flood recovery while directing city staff to evaluate long-term stormwater management strategies following widespread flash flooding in July.

The council unanimously voted to double the city's emergency flood relief fund to $2 million for affected homeowners and businesses after residents described repeated flooding, property damage and aging infrastructure during a public meeting.

In a separate measure, council directed the city administration and the Metropolitan Sewer District to explore expanding green infrastructure projects, developing watershed-based flood mitigation plans and establishing a flood resilience task force to identify flood risks and recommend solutions.

City leaders said the initiatives are intended to improve the community's ability to manage increasingly intense rainfall events. Officials also highlighted the need to complement traditional gray infrastructure with green stormwater practices that reduce runoff and increase infiltration.

According to city officials, more than 2,000 complaints were received following the storms, including over 1,800 reports submitted to the Metropolitan Sewer District. The flooding included the July 17 failure of the Duck Creek flood gate system, which affected dozens of properties.

Council members said the city will continue evaluating infrastructure investments as it responds to immediate recovery needs while planning for more resilient stormwater systems in the future.