Ellicott City Flood Damage Destroys Historic Downtown Area Near Baltimore, Maryland

Ellicott City flood damage is extensive after Saturday night’s flooding in the Baltimore and Howard counties, and neighboring areas, in Maryland.

A state of emergency was declared by Governor Larry Hogan after major flooding destroyed the bulk of the downtown area of Ellicott City.

According to CBC News, initially there were no injuries reported by Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman, but recent developments have been released through WUSA 9 that one woman was found dead in the Patapsco River. They believe that she may have been swept away when the flood waters tore through the main downtown area.

Clipper Mill & Union Ave:1 person trapped in vehicle rescued. 3 ppl assisted out of standing water. No injuries. pic.twitter.com/AG4NVMMu0x

— Baltimore Fire (@BaltimoreFire) July 31, 2016

Ellicott City flood warnings were issued in the evening throughout the area but residents weren’t expecting the severity of the flooding. Fire crews and emergency vehicles were out rescuing individuals stranded on top of their vehicles starting around 9:30p.m. Saturday July 30, 2016.

The severe flooding caused also a major power outage for more than 10,000 customers across Baltimore, Howard, and Montgomery counties and Baltimore City. According to CBC News, over the past several hours crews have managed to restore power and water services to most of the areas.

Ellicott City flood damage has managed to destroy most of the downtown resulting in parts of the Main Street collapsing.

One of the Ellicott City locals stated to CBS Baltimore.

“It was a flash flood. I literally came here; I thought we’re going to have dinner. Within five minutes, it was panic and my friend was pulling someone out of there, and I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Other witnesses to the devastation have made comment that the water was up to their waist and felt like they were in a scene of a disaster movie.

Many Ellicott City vehicles on the streets are unsalvageable. They have been pushed into other vehicles, crashed into buildings, plunged into channels and completely totaled. Other damages included downed trees, lines and people trapped in vehicles and buildings.

https://www.facebook.com/PaulGesslerFox45/posts/1042579955791505#

City officials were evacuating many citizens from the downtown areas to the Roger Carter Community Center.

Ellicott City officials were continuing to ask residents to remain out of the downtown area as they assess damages and confirm the safety of all individuals.

Near Jones Falls there were close to 20 vehicles stranded in the rising flood waters. Harford County Fire Rescue, and several nearby emergency services, were called in to assist with the rescue and removal of those trapped within or around the vehicles.

People clinging onto side of vehicle as it is swept away on Main Street #ellicottcity #flooding #Maryland #mdwx pic.twitter.com/rGayILpC9X

— 911 Emergency Communications Dispatcher II (@EastCoastAlert) July 31, 2016

Baltimore and Carroll County flooding was just as extensive. Some of the road closures Saturday night included Interstate 83 between Falls Road and Coldspring Lane, as well as heavy flooding on Baust Church Road in Union Bridge. Many of the road closures outside of Ellicott City and in the Baltimore area have since been reopened.

“As of 11 p.m., in Howard County, Frederick Road remained closed between Toll House Road and Main Street in Ellicott City. Route 108 was closed at Ten Mills Road. Little Patuxent Parkway was closed between Columbia Road and U.S. 29” noted CBS News.

Police and emergency crews were still requesting residents to remain indoors. As of 11:00 a.m. crews were just starting to allow media into the devastated areas of Ellicott City.

Many of these Maryland counties will require extensive repair work to the streets and areas. The major devastation was to the heart of Ellicott City where the businesses will not be able to reopen until the structural damages to the roadways and the buildings are assessed.

Hopefully the damages will be limited to buildings and structural concerns, but final number of injuries have not been released at this time. Soon residents will be able to assess the downtown area damages for themselves from the Ellicott City flood.

[Photo by Cliff Owen/AP Images]