Sometimes staying afloat means diving in first. To protect Captain's Quarters Riverside Grille in Louisville, Kentucky, from flood damage, owner Andrew Masterson (pictured) and his team flooded the restaurant with clean water. In a creative move to block muddy river water from getting inside, the team of workers used sinks, faucets and a well pump to fill the building with clean, fresh water — six feet of it. To equalize the pressure and keep the dirty, silty floodwater from barging in, Masterson made the head-turning move. “We figured if water’s coming in no matter what, it might as well be the kind we control,” explained Masterson. Before filling up, they disconnected kitchen equipment and shut down electrical panels to prevent damage. Putting the business at a standstill wasn't the ideal situation, but the strategy actually saved thousands in cleanup costs and long-term repairs. The restaurant reopened just two weeks after the flood hit in April. Masterson said he was thrilled that they were able to get the restaurant cleaned up and opened in time for Derby Week, which started on May 3, 2025.
