Maryland Governor Declares Howard County in State of Emergency

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has declared a state of emergency for Howard County, effective at 10 a.m. on Sunday.

The declaration has led to assistance from the Maryland Emergency Management Agency after Saturday night's storm that sent vehicles swimming, storefronts crumbling and citizens scrambling to get out of historic Ellicott City. Two people died in the flood.

Hogan's response followed a local emergency declaration. Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman declared a state of emergency at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday after flash floods hit parts of Ellicott City and Columbia. The declaration makes the county eligible for state assistance.

On Saturday night, the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services rescued at least 80 people from vehicles and more than 40 others from the Phoenix Emporium, Kittleman said.

• Woman Dead, Others Missing After Flood in Ellicott City
• Scenes from Ellicott City Flood: Human Chain, Floating Cars, Road Collapse

Those impacted by the storm who need assistance may contact the Howard County Resident Information Line at 410-313-2900.

County officials asked citizens to stay away from Main Street in downtown Ellicott City Sunday morning due to safety issues caused by the storm, including a broken water main and natural gas leak.

Another water main break was disrupting water service in Elkridge, on Montgomery Road at Bauman Drive.

Centennial Park was closed until 10 a.m. on Sunday for a damage assessment. It has since reopened.

The Roger Carter Community Center was closed Sunday for recreational use, as those who fled the floodwaters were being sheltered there. It was open for those who needed a place to shower, charge up their devices and use bathrooms. A portable water storage truck was also going to be on hand.

A flood warning was in effect until 11:15 a.m. on Sunday for Howard County. The National Weather Service reported that the Little Patuxent River remained above flood stage after 6 a.m. The river was cresting near Savage at 18 feet and was anticipated to flood downstream toward Columbia.

A flash flood emergency was declared Saturday night for Columbia, Ellicott City, the Little Patuxent River and the Patapsco River.

Downtown Ellicott City businesses were evacuated, drivers had to be rescued from vehicles submerged in the floodwaters and rivers flowed over their banks, officials reported. The clock near Maryland Avenue washed away in the storm, captured on video by an onlooker.

"This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation," the National Weather Service said in a statement at 10:40 p.m. Saturday. "Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or [if you are] under an evacuation order."

"Residents living in the areas of Centennial, Lake Kittamaqundi, and Allview along the Little Patuxent River should move away from the river to higher ground," Howard County government officials said before 11 p.m. "There still remains the potential for large volumes of water to be released and flood the surrounding area should an upstream dam fail."

The aftermath of the flood in Ellicott City https://t.co/gAN3uTGFeehttps://t.co/cpx8GcMDMZ — WUSA9 (@wusa9) July 31, 2016

The following roads were closed, Howard County government officials reported just before 11 p.m.:

• Ellicott Mills Drive
• Frederick Road between Toll House Road through Main Street Ellicott City
• Route 108 between Ten Mills Road and Columbia Road
• Little Patuxent Parkway between Columbia Road and US 29

A flash flood warning was in effect for Howard and several other counties until 4:15 a.m. on Sunday.

The Howard County Emergency Operations Center was activated Saturday night after first responders were called to multiple vehicles stranded on flooded roads, prompting a request that citizens stay home. Those with emergencies should call 911, and people with non-emergency situations should call 410-313-2200 in Howard County.

Here are areas where officials said flooding was reported in Ellicott City:

• Gray Rock Drive at Walt Mill Court
• Main Street (citizens reportedly trapped in cars and on trees)
• US 29 at Interstate 70
• St. Johns Lane
• Carroll at Folly Quarter Road

The storm impacted utilities for some citizens.

There were more than 3,000 people without power after 10 p.m. in Howard County, according to BGE.

Within an hour and a half, the number was below 1,000. Alert BGE to outages by calling 877-778-2222 or filing a report online.

A water main break in Ellicott City also left some without water, county officials said. Public works personnel were working on a repair.

Flooding on Main Street in Ellicott City on July 30, 2016. Photo Credit: Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman.

MAJOR #FLOODING Ellicott City #Maryland active water rescues people trapped in cars trees down. Photos/fb pic.twitter.com/Hskp3mtBfo
— EastCoastAlert (@Eastcoastphotog) July 31, 2016