Ellicott City Flooded Again! (Frederick: how much, neighborhoods, design)

[KodeBlue]

Not even two years after the last major flood 7/30/16, Ellicott City is hit again today.

[Turnerbro]

Before people scream "climate change!" It isn't. The main problem here is Horrible development planning combined with unfortunate geography. It's a city build near water and surrounded by hills. They over developed new neighborhoods on top of the hills without any plan to redirect the water or build dams. It use to flood there multiple times a decade. They had a bit of a break until recently since it's flooded twice in three years. The fact is the government has failed to develop a solution.

[Maintainschaos]

So tragic. Was just there at Manor Hill this afternoon. Was there the same day it happened in 2016. Unreal. There should have been proactive redevelopment after 2016, but I’ve read both HoCo and FEMA were unwilling to assist in what is really required.

[pappjohn]

There is also too much pavement and concrete, but I don't know if any design can redirect enough water there. Years ago there was more land to suck up the rain.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by pappjohn

There is also too much pavement and concrete, but I don't know if any design can redirect enough water there. Years ago there was more land to suck up the rain.

You could probably engineer a solution, but then the question is "how much do you want to pay?".

That's what they did in Frederick. Yeah, I know it flooded recently but the massive control structures that were built did their jobs and the damage was orders of magnitude less than it would have been without them.

[KodeBlue]

It looks like there are two creeks at the top of Main Street. There's no way to redirect that water behind Main Street?

[michgc]

I am so sad seeing the videos on the news. I hope everyone (people and pets) stayed safe.

[PylesFord]

Unfortunately I think is going to be too much for many that went thru the last one & will say enough is enough.

[Mez91]

Originally Posted by Turnerbro

Before people scream "climate change!" It isn't. The main problem here is Horrible development planning combined with unfortunate geography. It's a city build near water and surrounded by hills. They over developed new neighborhoods on top of the hills without any plan to redirect the water or build dams. It use to flood there multiple times a decade. They had a bit of a break until recently since it's flooded twice in three years. The fact is the government has failed to develop a solution.

It's bad development and climate change, who are you to say it's either or?

[kjg1963]

Originally Posted by KodeBlue

It looks like there are two creeks at the top of Main Street. There's no way to redirect that water behind Main Street?

Some of those old buildings are built directly over top of a stream. After the last flood, the company I worked for reinforced the buildings that straddle that stream. I wonder if the reinforcement helped this time?