The flood devastated downtown Ellicott City, Maryland. Two people killed and and 25 buildings have been destroyed. It had been the worst in memory of a 57 years old county executive.

Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said that the city was flood prone. But the 6 inches of rain between 7 PM and 9 PM was the equivalent of a month of normal rainfall, he said.

He said "We've never seen such devastation in Howard County for over 50 years. In the past, it has been bad. It has never been close to being this bad …”. He added, “we talked to a lot of people who said they had very little time to get ready, like ten minutes and all of the sudden it was there. So that just goes to show you the strength of this, and it also goes to show you that nature is awfully powerful, folks. We are not in control and we have to be ready."

Video of the flood showed that cars being swept away in roads that look like rivers. Andy Barth, spokesman for the County Office of Emergency Management said, "People formed human chains to help out others”.

He stated, "I will never forget that because that tells me what the people of Ellicott City are like. That tells me that's what people in Howard County are like. That tells me this is not going to defeat us. We are going to become a stronger, better community, because that is who we are."

By Prakriti Neogi