Baltimore Co. Takes Stock Of Damage As Waters Recede
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- Now that the floodwater is finally receding in the Baltimore area, we're seeing some of the worst damage for the first time.
Monique Griego reports many buildings are no longer safe to go into.
The water in Mt. Washington has receded about a foot since Thursday. So while the worst of the storm is over, all that damage left behind is going to take a lot longer to fix.
Floodwaters receded from streets, but the damage remains. Heavy rain washed out a big chunk of Granite Street, leaving a gaping hole in the pavement in Baltimore County.
A creek in Ellicott City clogged with debris and flooded surrounding areas.
"It just overpowered water banks rose above the creek," David Robbins of Ellicott City said.
Water rushed into the basement of Robbins' business. Now everything is wet and covered in mud. He's salvaging what he can.
"Clean it out, get on with it and move on," Robbins said.
But storm trash is what some guys came looking for.
"We come down and seen all this metal, so we figured if we could stop and see if we could get it," they said.
Several homes on the street were also damaged. Water ripped apart walls and caved others in. One house is no longer safe to live in, and it wasn't the only one condemned.
"I heard a banging noise and thought a tree had fallen on my roof," Carolyn Harden of Baltimore County said.
What Harden actually heard was the sound of her basement collapsing. The rain-soaked soil simply washed away.
"When I looked down in the basement, the whole wall, the cinder blocks had collapsed in," she explained.
In Dulaney Valley, roads remain closed even after water receded near the Cromwell Bridge. Crews are now checking for damage. Road closures may be a nuisance, but drivers say they'd rather be safe than sorry.
"I'm definitely glad they're doing it because I've seen the road sinking before," said Buddy Davis of Baltimore County.
Back in Baltimore City, the water near Mt. Washington was calm enough for divers to go under and check bridges for safety. It seems most people are now just hoping the rain stays away.
"I'd love to see some sunshine," Davis said. "The rain is getting insane for me. It's driving me nuts!"
As for those homes that were condemned, the homeowners tell WJZ that their insurance is not going to cover the damage. So now, they doesn't know how they are going to get those things fixed.
In just four days, 8.25 inches of rain fell in central Maryland. That is about two months worth.
