"The water kept coming up, and it started seeping through the doors.Then all of a sudden it just 'boom' broke the doors. He and his son barely escaped as the floodwaters surged through. One of those buildings houses Tom Shoemaker's family furniture business.
We have to figure out what is the best way for us to save this town," he added. "I think we have to look at what's best for the town as a whole. Kittleman, who led the area through both floods, said he is deeply committed to keeping Main Street standing, even if that means losing some of its beautiful, historic buildings, some of which were built in the late 1700s. "We're not going to lose this town, but we need to realize, instead of imposing ourselves on the river, how can we coexist with the river?" "We have to discuss whether or not the county should purchase some properties, how we can open up the stream," said Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman, whose jurisdiction includes Ellicott City. There are several proposals for reconstruction, but one leading idea is to level some of the historic buildings that stand by the side of the river and create a new river walk - a green space that could accommodate floodwater. And that may be the answer in Ellicott City. The only way to control that speed is to give the river new options of where to go. And it is not just the amount of water, as heavy rains cause tributaries to overflow, it is also the speed of that water, rushing through towns like a bulldozer. Sexton said cities small and large, but particularly small-town America, where sewer systems are less advanced, are in danger. The amount of land, or permeable dirt, that has been covered with impermeable streets, sidewalks and buildings is about equal to the size of the entire city of Baltimore. He mapped close to 8,000 square miles between Washington and Baltimore, and watched changes since 1984. Sexton's maps show how development increased the intensity of the flooding by up to 30 percent, and Ellicott City is just one example. In the most recent storm, nearly 8 inches of rain fell in just three hours - intense water with nowhere to go. "We have flood maps that were drawn based on predictions that are no longer true," Sexton said. Most were approved, according to county records. Developers submitted more than 100 plans to build residential and commercial buildings in about 3 square miles around Ellicott City. But since 1991, real estate around the popular main drag exploded. Those water currents were the currency, the energy for the town, which was built around a mill in 1772. Several tributaries above Main Street run through town to the river. Not only is more water falling, but more development is covering the natural vegetation and replacing it with impervious surfaces such as concrete and asphalt, along with rooftops through which water does not penetrate.Įllicott City was built just north of the Patapsco River. Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score or Lower "There are no words to describe the devastation in Ellicott City," Kittleman said, adding that in addition to the businesses that have been destroyed, a portion of Ellicott Mills Drive was also washed away.Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit This flooding left two dead, hundreds of vehicles damaged or totaled, and significant damage and erosion around the town. "We will be there for them as we were in 2016," he said.ĭuring the 2016 flood, nearly six inches of rain fell in under two hours time, much of which falling in less than an hour. Kittleman remarked that the damage appeared worse than what occurred on July 30, 2016. This is the second time in two years that Ellicott City was hit by a significant flood. Officials have confirmed that the attached photo is Hermond. #ECFlood MISSING PERSON: #HoCoPolice are continuing the search for Eddison Hermond, 39, of Severn, last seen at appx.
0 kommentar(er)
