5-Day Access Window For Ellicott City Starts Thursday
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- There will be a five-day window this week for Ellicott City residents, merchants and property owners to clean up and retrieve items from their homes and businesses, Howard County officials announced on Monday.
Starting on Thursday, those displaced from Main Street following the devastating flash floods on July 30 will be allowed access to the site, which was the hardest hit area when a sudden deluge brought floodwaters rushing through the city.
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"During the extended access, those displaced by the July 30 flash flooding will have the chance to clean up, haul out, remediate damage and move out items from their homes and businesses," county executive Allan Kittleman said in a statement. "This time may also be used for property owners to bring in contractors to develop a plan for rebuilding."
When that five-day window ends on Monday, Aug. 22, access to the area will be completely closed off for three weeks so public works crews and utility workers can perform repairs and restore service to Main Street, the county said in a news release.
The goal is to have downtown Ellicott City reopened to pedestrian traffic by sometime around Sept. 16.
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Residents have had limited opportunities to return to the area since the flash floods, caused by a month's worth of rainfall in just a few hours, sent a tide of floodwater through the city and washed away people, vehicles, sidewalks and the foundations of some buildings. Two people died in the tragedy.
The Disaster Assistance Center will be open Tuesday and Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ellicott City50+ Center, located at 9401 Frederick Road.
To learn more about how you can help the Ellicott City flood victims, CLICK HERE.