On May 27, 2018, training thunderstorms severely affected the Ellicott City area with torrential downpours over a short period of time, causing the historic downtown area to flood severely. Main Street turned into a raging river, carrying cars along, destroying business and residential property, and causing numerous water rescues by Emergency officials. One National Guardsman, when attempting to rescue a woman, unfortunately, got swept away himself and was found drowned downstream in the Patapsco River two days later. People were trapped in homes or businesses for hours. Rainfall amounts were recorded in Ellicott City 8.40” and nearby Catonsville 10.38” (Source: 5/28 NWS Public Info Statement) with other locations receiving an estimated 10-13 inches of rain, all in a few hours. This same area flooded badly as recently as July 30, 2016 and the area was just recovering and receiving flood recovery funds from that flood. With this most recent event, it has taken a week to recover enough to allow for the safe return of residents to their local businesses and residences in the downtown Main Street area (June 3, 2018). This flood was initially described as a one-in-one-thousand-year flood but that has been reconsidered – the flood less than 2 years ago was already declared with that same designation. Changes to the climate pattern and the area layout has created a new flood pattern, one that, unfortunately, could potentially cause much more frequent flooding to this area. Serious decisions are being considered now as to how much rebuilding will be done in this increasingly flood-prone area. Cost is a big player in this decision.

Picture credit and description:  “Water rushes through Main Street in Ellicott City MD Sunday May 27 2018. Flash flooding and water rescues were very common occurrences on this day and the following few days as heavy rain soaked this part of the state. (Libby Solomon/The Baltimore Sun via AP)