The city faces months-long recovery after almost every home and business along the road was wiped out in an event so extraordinary the National Weather Service said it should occur just once every 1,000 years there.
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“On reaching street level, he was confronted with a raging torrent of water surging down Main St.”, the page said.
“I don’t think anything could have stopped this tragedy”, he said, “but, as you know, we have flooding”. “It’s my livelihood. I was here seven days a week because I loved it”.
Eve shared hugs and tears with others who packed the Ellicott City 50+ Center to hear how they can begin to rebuild after Saturday’s devastating flood.
“I went to school with (Sen.) Ben Cardin”, Eve said.
“Our staff is experienced in providing this type of help, and we are happy to provide whatever assistance we can give to help our colleagues in Maryland as they deal with this incident”, said PEMA Director Richard Flinn.
“She yelled at me at first, in tears, she told me never to do it again”, he said. “I know that FEMA is here”.
As state and federal leaders toured the damage Monday, one said the water washed foundations away like an quake. More are expected to tour the damage on Tuesday.
Residents are also starting to pick up their damaged or destroyed vehicles.
Ed McDonough, a spokesman for the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, said officials won’t have a comprehensive damage estimate until building inspectors say damaged structures are stable enough for closer examination.
“Everything around us was replaceable, but that person floating down in the vehicle was not”, he said.
The county courthouse and government headquarters are located in Ellicott City but are on higher ground.
“I’m excited to be able to speak to some of them because there are things I need answered”, Berkowitz said. “Hopefully there’s some help I can get”. Any cars that go unclaimed by Sunday, Aug. 7 at 8 p.m. will be towed to a contracted storage facility at the owner’s expense.
On Monday evening, Kittleman hosted a packed community meeting to share resources with residents who suffered damage.
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A submerged auto is visible in the Patapsco River, seen from the Howard County side of Patapsco Valley State Park after the sidewalk caved in due to Saturday nights flooding in Ellicott City, Md., Sunday, July 31, 2016.
