ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — Property owners devastated by the Saturday night flooding in Ellicott City gathered at the Howard County Senior Center for answers Monday night. Those with businesses and homes in the area hit hardest by the damaging floodwaters have had little sleep.
U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin expressed his shock and horror to what had happened in what he called one of the most beautiful spots in America. He says members of his staff are in the town.
“We’re going to stay here and make sure Ellicott City returns to its glory,” Cardin added.
Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said, for the first time Monday afternoon, several business owners and homeowners were escorted into the city to see the damage first hand.
“I appreciate your patience. I know a lot of people wanted to go down earlier, but we had to make sure that things are stable,” Kittleman said.
Kittleman adds that safety remains a top priority for the county. The county executive says another group of property owners will be allowed to enter the town Tuesday from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
More than 180 cars have been towed to nearby Centennial High School, and the county police department will staff the yard from 8 a.m. to 8. p.m. for people whose cars were swept away.
The county executive says he’s touched by the outpouring of support shown for Ellicott City. He says, while they are appreciated, he is urging people looking to make donations of building supplies to hold off because right now there isn’t anywhere to store the materials.
.@HoCoGovExec says he plans to do the best to keep sightseers out once city is opened to business owners. #WTOP
— Mike Murillo (@MikeMurilloWTOP) August 1, 2016
One resident recommends the county open up a high school where victims can sell the goods which survived the floods. #WTOP
— Mike Murillo (@MikeMurilloWTOP) August 1, 2016
The county also is reaching out to storage and office space companies to help business owners. #wtop
— Mike Murillo (@MikeMurilloWTOP) August 1, 2016
Kittleman said he has also called for a special session of the Howard County Council, because they will be needed to approve an extension of the state of emergency declaration he signed this past weekend.
Kittleman said that local, state and federal services and information centers will continue to serve those affected. For information on locations, residents are asked to call 410-313-2900.
“It’s going to take a while — a long while — for us to rebuild folks, but make no mistake about it: We are going to rebuild,” Kittleman said.
