100 Days Down on the Road to Recovery for Ellicott City
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (WJZ)-- Tuesday marks 100 days since historic Ellicott City was all but swept away in unprecedented flooding that killed two people and destroyed Main Street.
With more and more ribbon cuttings every day, Main Street is well on the road to recovery.
There has been 100 days of painting and planning and of progress since July 30.
"Well there's been a lot of construction, it's basically been a construction zone," said property owner Kelly Cumberland.
"Well, I think the progress has been amazing," said Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman.
Kittleman tells WJZ Ellicott City is coming back.
"This is a long recovery, but I think where we are right now is far beyond where most people would have expected us to be had you walked down the street on the night of July 30th," said Kitleman.
The further down the hill you travel, the fewer stores are open on Main Street and the more work there is to be done.
Out of the 90 businesse impacted, 41 are already back open and another 28 plan to come back.
The bulk of the infrastructure work is already done, which is a big help.
Visitors are optimistic.
"I'm really impressed that people are putting in the work, really hard work, physically hard work and money, a lot of money, to put this back together," said visitor Donna Wach.
"I think it's incredible how much has actually gotten done," said another visitor Dannty Lethbridge.
100 days down on the road to recovery, but plenty more up ahead.
County officials are hoping the holiday shopping season serves as the rebirth for Ellicott City and lots of locals will plan to shop there.
The city is investing nearly $4 million in flood mitigation and research.
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