Howard County Crews Remove 2K Pounds of Debris After Tropical Storm Ophelia

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Storm cleanup wrapped up this week in Howard County after Tropical Storm Ophelia swept through the region.

Since the storm, crews from Howard EcoWorks and the Howard County Department of Public Works have inspected more than 50 sites across the watershed and removed approximately 2,000 pounds of debris.

“Thanks to our diligent partners in the Ellicott City Safe and Sound Plan, we are able to address storm debris quickly and mitigate further issues from clogs and flooding in an efficient and effective manner,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said. “This proactive inspection and removal program prevents debris from piling up and increasing our risk of serious problems and damage. It has proven very valuable to remain vigilant and stay on top of these potential hazards.”

The enhanced stream debris removal program mandates that more than 50 inspection points along nine waterways are inspected within three business days any time the county has a rainfall of two inches or more in a 24-hour period or after an hour of sustained winds more than 30 miles per hour. Crews then have 14 business days to remove debris.

“These Safe and Sound events are a great opportunity for us to put regular eyes on the streams, which we think is extremely important,” said Lori Lilly, executive director of Howard EcoWorks. “We have definitely seen improvements over the years in the amount of debris that accumulates at the constriction points after each storm event through this proactive, rather than reactive, approach to management.”

During the last four years, nearly 40 tons of debris have been removed from county waterways in and around Ellicott City to ensure the ongoing safety of residents, business owners and visitors.

To follow the progress of inspections and debris removal, visit www.ecsafeandsound.org.