Tropical Storm Lee dumped enough rain to cause flash-floods throughout Maryland. Wednesday and Thursday that week, Ellicott City was especially hit hard. The Patapsco River and Tiber Creek both flooded the town. Most shops near the river and creek had almost six feet of water fill their basements. Flooding damaged merchandise and left mud in some shops. The biggest damage was the house near the free parking lot. The first floor was completely wrecked.
The rain also saturated soil enough to cause some landslides. The retaining wall next to the tattoo shop and B&O Railroad Museum collapsed. Six cars were buried underneath dirt and rock. By Sunday the cars had been moved and all of the debris was piled behind concrete barriers.
Usually the Patapsco river water level isn’t high. This past summer it was only a few inches deep near the bridge. On Wednesday, water was rushing from the creek and river onto the street. The following video shows Main Street near the Patapsco River bridge.
By Sunday, the river level was much lower. Tiber Creek looked just like it normally does except for some rocks and debris. The street was clear of any mud, and only a few shops were still cleaning out the mess.
Ellicott City has a long history of flooding. There is a flood marker next to the railroad bridge which shows the different flood levels over the years. In 1868, the river flooded over 21.5 feet! You can find more flood markers throughout town to get an idea of what was covered by water in the past. Fortunately this recent flood wasn’t as bad as those in the past. In a few weeks, the flood will be history and Ellicott City will be back to normal!
