AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 15, 2026
Flooding Leaves Lasting Impact on New Castle Businesses
Two months after unprecedented flooding swept through New Castle, Indiana, local businesses are still struggling with the aftermath. Many have yet to reopen, and the journey toward full recovery remains challenging.
Ming’s Garden: A Glimpse into Business Restoration
Ming’s Garden, a local restaurant, was particularly hard hit by the flood. "It just takes patience and some hard work to put us back on our feet," said owner Ray Wong. Restoration has involved substantial repairs, including removing damaged drywall and rebuilding. Wong noted, "It’s a slow and painful process." The restaurant plans to initially resume carryout service as they prepare to welcome back sit-in diners. Looking on the bright side, Wong said, "The bright side is we get new walls and a lot of new flooring back there and hopefully can give our customers a refresh of our business."
Widespread Effects on the Community
According to New Castle Mayor Greg York, more than 50 businesses experienced significant flood damage, especially those near South Memorial Drive and Broad Street. The scale of impact has tested the community’s resilience and resolve.
Hoosier E-Cig's Recovery and Reopening
Hoosier E-Cig, another affected business located next to Ming’s Garden, also faced considerable challenges. Owner Brett McCullough described the scene: "Our morning shift employee came in that morning and waded through the parking lot to get in here because she is just that dedicated. She came in and sent us pictures of about 6-7 inches of water all throughout." After more than a month of closure, Hoosier E-Cig has reopened. "I think a lot of people kind of got used to us not being open when we were down for a little over a month, but we are back open and we’re here. We’re better than ever," McCullough shared.
Mayor Optimistic About Business Resilience
Mayor York remains optimistic about the pace of recovery. "Altogether we had over 50 businesses that were deeply affected by the flood," he stated. Despite the damages, he hasn't heard of any business planning to close permanently. "I haven’t talked to anyone that just totally closed down and said we’re throwing in the towel," York confirmed. He praised the determination of the business owners to persevere and predicted that all temporarily closed establishments would reopen soon.
Path Forward: Step by Step Toward Normalcy
Recovery from the flood remains ongoing, but there is a sense of progress as repairs continue and more businesses reopen. Mayor York noted, "Everybody is in the mood that we’re gonna get ahead of this, beat this, and we’re going to continue to move forward." Each day brings the community closer to restoring its local economy and vibrancy after the flood aftermath.
Source: fox59.com.
