Hamilton County commissioners are considering a formal state of emergency declaration that could open the door to federal relief money for the 1,860 people who filed damage claims after the July 17 and July 21 storms.

The move came up at the commission's Tuesday meeting, where officials said a decision on federal funding eligibility is expected within days. One commissioner said, "We need to get more aggressive with federal grant dollars."

MSD Deputy Director and Chief Engineer Reese Johnson told commissioners the district is moving forward with 10 projects aimed at preventing future flooding. Johnson did not name the specific projects or their locations. He said the agency is pushing ahead quickly.

"We have little hope to solve a thousand-year flood. Even the biggest system couldn't handle that," Johnson said. "Then you can't build a system big enough, but if we can build smaller systems, it will help."

MSD Director Diana Christy told commissioners the agency is investigating every damage report filed since the storms and has completed nearly all field investigations. Much of that work, she said, happens in the street rather than inside homes.

About 500 properties had been approved for MSD's Sewer Backup Program at that point. That number has since climbed to 940 approved for cleanup or reimbursement. Total damage claims rose from about 1,500 to 1,860 over the same period.

MSD's service area covers Anderson Township, Mariemont, Terrace Park and Newtown. The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners, led by President Stephanie Summerow Dumas, Vice President Alicia Reece, and Commissioner Denise Driehaus, oversees MSD's budget.

The July 17 rainfall has been classified by MSD as a 1,000-year storm event. Hamilton County Public Health and MSD were already responding to a sewage discharge in Dry Run Creek in Anderson Township as of Wednesday, July 15, two days before the storm hit, according to Anderson Township's website.

Officials at the July 28 meeting also discussed whether urban environmental factors may be contributing to recurring flooding in certain areas.

Property owners who have not yet filed a claim can report a sewer backup 24/7 by calling MSD at 513-352-4900 or submitting a form at msdgc.org/sbu. An ombudsman is available at 513-362-2801.

No specific vote date for the emergency declaration has been announced. Commissioners are expected to act this week.