As Ellicott City Braces For More Rain, Cleanup Progresses

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — Preparations are underway as days of rain are forecast for Ellicott City. From tarps to sandbags to changes in access, Howard County officials announced they are taking steps to get ready.

"We're doing everything in our power to make sure that whatever happens over the next few days will have as little impact as possible down in Ellicott City," Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said at a press conference Thursday morning.

Public works officials have been removing debris from Main Street as well as storm channels and parking lots and have installed temporary curbs along portions of the road.

SEE ALSO: Current Road Closures In Ellicott City

Trips to Main Street will be canceled on Thursday for business owners and residents who had been given limited access as the area braces for additional rain. Credentialing will continue at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 3695 Rogers Avenue, for those who would like to get cleared for access once it is available.

"We don't want to have anybody get hurt," Kittleman said, referring to workers as well as residents and business owners. A decision about access on Friday will be made based on the weather, he noted.

The National Weather Service is providing direct support to the emergency operations center in Howard County, according to Emergency Management Director Ryan Miller.

"We do have some severe weather coming our way," Miller said Thursday morning. "This is going to be a slow-moving type storm," making it difficult to predict.

Here is the forecast Miller provided for Ellicott City:

Thursday: Rain from 2 to 10 p.m.

Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely 2 p.m. to midnight

Saturday: Heavy rain possible as low pressure moves through the area

Sunday: Showers possible

Weekend showers could bring rain in the 1.5 to 2-inch range, according to Miller.

RELATED: More Storms Prompt Flash Flood Watch In Maryland

"Stay alert, please," Miller advised, since the National Weather Service upgrades watches to warnings as storm threats become more immediate.

There was a flash flood warning Thursday night in Ellicott City and surrounding areas. Laurel experienced minor flooding near the MARC station, but Ellicott City had no issues reported around Main Street, according to Howard County government officials.

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Teams of workers are making significant progress in clearing debris from the Main Street area, according to Howard County Public Works Director Jim Irvin. Everything from swing sets to clothing was found in the stream.

He said that teams started by clearing channels.

"They were filled up with an incredible amount of debris," Irvin said. He said there was a huge blockage on Tiber Alley and Ellicott Mills Drive, particularly in the area of the road collapse, and crews were focused on those areas.

About 100 dump trucks filled with tree stumps and "everything you can think of" had been removed by Thursday morning, he reported.

Since curbs and gutter pieces were among the things washed away in Sunday's flood, Irvin said inlets were filled with sand and bricks. Crews were installing temporary curbs and sucking out materials stuck in pipes, he said.

A 50-foot cliff was now present on Hill Street because the hillside supporting the road washed away, Irvin said. Tarps were installed Wednesday to protect the area from further erosion, and crews were working through the channels on west Main Street, he said.

One wall behind the Wine Bin was lost, he said, which will need to be repaired.

Contractors started Wednesday on reconstruction, which Irvin said was "pretty remarkable given where we are."

Image from Howard County Police Department video of storm preparations on Main Street.

Watch the Howard County press conference from Thursday, May 31: