Ellicott City residents recover iconic clock in Patapsco River

Mark Haver holds up a piece of the Ellicott City clock that was swept away during the flood and recovered Saturday, June 2, 2018. (Courtesy Howard County Government)
Mark Haver holds up a piece of the Ellicott City clock that was swept away during the flood and recovered Saturday, June 2, 2018. (Courtesy Howard County Government)
Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman shakes Mark Haver's hand. Mark and Geoff Haver found the clock in the Patapsco River. (Courtesy Howard County Government)
Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman shakes Mark Haver’s hand. Mark and Geoff Haver found the clock in the Patapsco River. (Courtesy Howard County Government)
A Howard County officer helps Mark Haver carry the Ellicott City clock, which was swept away during Sunday's flood. (Courtesy Howard County Government)
A Howard County officer helps Mark Haver carry the Ellicott City clock, which was swept away during Sunday’s flood. (Courtesy Howard County Government)
The frame of the Ellicott City clock floats in the Patapsco River on Saturday June 2, 2018. (Courtesy Howard County Government)
The frame of the Ellicott City clock floats in the Patapsco River on Saturday June 2, 2018. (Courtesy Howard County Government)
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Mark Haver holds up a piece of the Ellicott City clock that was swept away during the flood and recovered Saturday, June 2, 2018. (Courtesy Howard County Government)
Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman shakes Mark Haver's hand. Mark and Geoff Haver found the clock in the Patapsco River. (Courtesy Howard County Government)
A Howard County officer helps Mark Haver carry the Ellicott City clock, which was swept away during Sunday's flood. (Courtesy Howard County Government)
The frame of the Ellicott City clock floats in the Patapsco River on Saturday June 2, 2018. (Courtesy Howard County Government)

WASHINGTON — As Ellicott City continues to clean up after Sunday’s flood, two residents found a bit of hope floating in the river.

On Saturday, Geoff and Mark Haver found the frame and part of the face of the Ellicott City clock in the Patapsco River. Howard County police helped the Havers remove the frame from the river and took it to a storage facility.

The clock was installed in July 2017, replacing a clock that was swept away in the 2016 flood.

Early on Sunday officials announced they were scaling back access to Main Street due to rain being in the forecast.

Officials were also forced to cancel access to Main Street Saturday evening due to bad weather, Howard County posted on its Facebook page.

Crews spent Saturday boarding up buildings and working on drainage issues, blockages and access to sewer and water connections.

Heavy rain on Friday and Saturday, and another rain forecast for Sunday, extended the state of emergency in Ellicott City by 30 days, ending on July 3.

The state of emergency allows the county to activate whatever resources are necessary to protect the public and property under applicable state and local emergency plans.

Howard County’s Director of Emergency Management Ryan Miller told the council the extension was needed because the scope of the damage is so great.

The state of emergency will allow the county to limit access in the fenced-in area of Main Street, as well as restrict vehicle and foot traffic along several routes that lead to the historic district.

Abigail Constantino

Abigail Constantino started her journalism career writing for a local newspaper in Fairfax County, Virginia. She is a graduate of American University and The George Washington University.

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