BALTIMORE – Flood protection measures prevented significant damage in flood-prone Old Ellicott City on Sunday evening.
People along Main Street and in low-lying areas around the Patapsco River were advised to seek higher ground as heavy rains fell across Maryland.
A flash flood warning has been issued until 00:45 for the region, which has experienced several severe floods since 2011.
County Commissioner Calvin Ball said the flood warning was issued at about 9:48 p.m. and again at 10 p.m., forcing police to close Main Street.
The storm brought about three inches of rain to Ellicott City in a short period of time, and there did not appear to be any flooding in any of the businesses.
“We remain vigilant, but these storms underscore the importance of our ongoing, impactful investments in flood mitigation and prevention,” Ball said. “While we still have work to do, we continue to make tangible and visible progress for our community.”
In 2016In February, rising floodwaters swept through the historic city, turning Main Street into a raging torrent that swept away cars and their drivers, ripped away sections of roads and sidewalks, damaged homes and businesses and kept emergency crews working late into the night as they rushed from one incident to the next, officials told reporters.
In 2018In the old town of Ellicott City, which lies in a ravine, 20 centimeters of rain turned the street into a raging river within a few hours. In some cases, the water reached the second floor of some buildings, so many fled to higher ground. More than 70 businesses were damaged.
Ways to contain floods
In December 2018, Calvin Ball, Howard County’s administrative chief, first announced the Ellicott City Safety and Sound Plana comprehensive plan to mitigate the impacts of flash flooding in historic Ellicott City with detention basins.
The plan’s four focus areas include ensuring public safety, supporting businesses and property owners, preserving Ellicott City’s historic charm and developing a more inclusive, community-driven process.
In 2022, a new retention pond opened upstream in a section near Baltimore National Pike and Route 29. Engineers say it is designed to hold about 4 million gallons of water.
In 2023, another pond called Quaker Mill, located slightly to the southeast, was opened.
Howard County officials recently broke ground on North Tunnel Projectone of seven projects that are part of the Ellicott City Safe and Sound Plan.
When completed, the tunnel will be able to collect and transport approximately 26,000 gallons of stormwater per second. Measuring 18 feet in diameter and one mile long, the tunnel will extend from the west end of the city to the Patapsco River.
A tunnel boring machine called Rocky will be the main tool used to build the tunnel. It will dig through the granite of the entire topography of the area.
Construction of the north tunnel is scheduled to be completed by autumn 2027.
