Memorial Day weekend is usually a time for fun, summer festivities. But that wasn’t the case this weekend for a Baltimore suburb. Instead, Baltimore residents had to seek safety from flash floods that toppled buildings and sent cars crashing.

A massive storm hit the north eastern area of the US, affecting both Baltimore and New York City. Maryland’s governor, Larry Hogan, declared a state of emergency for Howard County, where Baltimore suburb, Elilicott City, was especially hardsftruck. 

Ellicott city is situated about 12 miles west of Baltimore, and shares a valley with Patapsco River. Due to its location, Ellicott City is a flood-prone community. And after such heavy rainfall on Sunday, this historic town was ravaged yet again.

The Patapsco River rose 17.8 feet in just two hours, forcing brown water up into the historic downtown area of Ellicott City. In some areas, the water level reached above the second floors of some buildings. 

Buildings and trees were brought down by the powerful floods. And emergency personnel worked overtime to rescue and evacuate people. At this time, one person is missing, but no deaths have been reported.

What makes this flood particularly devastating is that it is the second to hit Ellicott City in just two years. Some buildings had finally finished being renovated following the 2016 flooding. 

In a statement by the county executive, Allan Kittleman, “I can tell you my heart is broken thinking about what the people have gone through here and the people’s lives who were divested two years ago and rebuilt. Now, they’re faced with the same daunting task again.”