Maryland community struck by flooding braces for more rain

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. – A historic Maryland community struck by severe flooding twice in less than two years is bracing for another round of downpours as the ground is already so saturated that even smaller amounts of rain pose a threat of flash floods.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch from Thursday afternoon to early Friday for much of Maryland, including flood-ravaged Howard County where authorities said they were preparing to deal with a possible deluge as thunderstorms approach.

“We do have some severe weather coming our way,” said Ryan Miller, the county’s chief of emergency management.

Crews have dug out tree stumps, building debris and mill stones from storm drains and culverts in downtown Ellicott City since flooding devastated the area Sunday. Flash flooding left National Guardsman Eddison Hermond dead and ravaged Main Street businesses less than two years after a similar flood staggered the town in late July 2016.

Authorities are urging residents to stay alert and said it’s hard to predict what areas could get localized heavy rainfall during storms forecast for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

“If it’s spread out over a longer period of time then we should be OK. If it comes down in a deluge, then we could potentially have flooding again,” said Jim Irvin, Howard County’s director of public works.