Flash flood in Ellicot City, Maryland

[..]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5777789/Maryland-hit-flash-flooding-torrential-rain-turns-streets-raging-rivers.html

[Fla. Jim]

Seems some never learn!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellicott_City,_Maryland

Floods

The town is prone to flooding from the Patapsco River and its tributary the Tiber River. These floods have had a major impact on the history of the town, often destroying important businesses and killing many. Ellicott City has had major devastating floods in 1817, 1837, 1868,[5] 1901, 1917, 1923, 1938, 1942, 1952, 1956, 1972 (Hurricane Agnes), 1975 (Hurricane Eloise), 1989, 2011, 2016, and 2018. The 1868 flood washed away 14 houses, killing 39 to 43 (accounts vary) in and around Ellicott City. It wiped out the Granite Manufacturing Cotton Mill, Charles A. Gambrill's Patapsco Mill, John Lee Carroll's mill buildings, and dozens of homes.[5] One mill was rebuilt by Charles Gambrill, which remained in operation until a fire in 1916.[6]:36
Historic flood stages marked on the B&O viaduct, c. 2006. Hurricane Agnes flood stage (14.5 feet (4.4 m)) is in the middle of the photograph.

A 1923 flood topped bridges, in 1952 an 8-foot (2.4 m) wall of water swept the shops of Ellicott City, and a 1956 flood inflicted heavy damage at the Bartigis Brothers plant. On June 21, 1972, the Patapsco River valley flooded 14.5 feet (4.4 m) from the remnants of Hurricane Agnes, taking out a concrete bridge, destroying the Jonathan Ellicott home, and the 1910 Victor Blode water filtration plant, and flooding Main Street to the Odd Fellows hall.[6]:26 The Old Main Line of the B&O Railroad also sustained serious damage.

On September 27, 1975, the town was flooded 9.0 feet (2.7 m) from Hurricane Eloise. Floods also occurred September 22, 1989, from Hurricane Hugo, and on September 7, 2011, flooding 11.0 feet (3.4 m) from Tropical Storm Lee.

On July 30, 2016, a storm dropped 6 inches (150 mm) of rain in two hours on the community. The resulting flash flood caused severe damage in historic Ellicott City, especially along Main Street.[7] Many homes, roads, businesses, sidewalks, and more were destroyed by the flooding, including the town's landmark clock.[8] A state of emergency was declared, and two people died as a result of the flooding.[9][10]
2018 flood
Main article: 2018 Maryland flood

On the afternoon of May 27, 2018 after receiving over eight inches of rain in the span of two hours, historic Main Street flooded[11] again days before the new flood emergency alert system was to become operational.[12]

[Rams]

Wait!   I distinctly heard the Governor state this was a 1000 year event!   

I have a hard time feeling much sympathy for those who build next to rivers known to flood, near beaches in hurricane zones and anywhere close to known earthquake fault lines.    I mean really, what did you expect????   

I surely hope there is no loss of life but.........

Rams

[..]

From a nearby resident, living upstream of the town:

The county government approves residential and commercial development on the outskirts of town.  This expands the tax base.  This development includes a lot of asphalt paving.  Rainwater flows from areas of new development down to the Patapsco River.  One path, the Main Street downtown, is like the tip of a funnel.  The new development expands the cone of the funnel, and the tip has no increased capacity to handle it during a rainy Spring.  This is poor planning and the county should accept responsibility for it.

(From my brother who rides a Harley).

The daft Govt in England decided that a few rivers in southern England needed straightening.

So they straightened them.

Then the same f'wits were surprised that those meandering rivers became torrents in heavy rain and way downstream flooded areas that had been dry previously.

Stupidity and greed oft go hand in hand.

[Rams]

From a nearby resident, living upstream of the town.

This is poor planning and the county should accept responsibility for it.

(From my brother who rides a Harley).

Seems like it's always someone else's fault.

People (Not just HD riders) never want to accept responsibility for their own bad decisions.
I have been guilty of this in the past and will most likely be guilty of it at some point in the future but, Retrospection normally shows the path I chose was not the one I should have taken. 

Building a town/business in that location was just plain silly.

Rams

[Rams]

Hey, Rams.  No doubt they will refurbish those buildings and proceed.  It is a beautiful location.  What started out as a spot for a 1770 flour mill has become a trendy location visited by big bucks people.   Dinner for two can be $200+.  There are expensive boutiques catering to high-end customers. 

Practical guys will say "close it down".  The man selling gourmet imported olive oil will want to keep that place going.  For those types of businesses, the rewards justify the risk.

Have no issue with any decision reference rebuilding but, don't ask the taxpayers to foot the bill.
I feel the same way about beach homes, homes built in forests, in earth quake zones, homes built on rivers, on volcanic islands,  etc......

I'm sure you get my gist.  BTW, that applies to businesses also.

Rams

[shortleg]

   It will be painful to not have another old place that represents the past
of one of the first states.

   I loved this town , but I think it might be time to think logical here and
think about building in an area that looks like a bowl.