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Flood causes devastating damage to Ellicott City, forced to rebuild for second time in 2 years

Posted at 11:22 PM, May 27, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-28 14:20:13-04

Not even two years later, a vibrant city once again thrown into turmoil as devastating flooding tore through Ellicott City, forcing lots of people to evacuate.

"It was flooded with water, water was coming in through the walls," Pat Hiban said. 

He was eating at a restaurant when it started to fill with water.

"The waiters were like no all the cars in the parking lot are flooded," Hiban said. 

Thankfully, they were able to get help and get out safely.

"An EMT guy came down and said do you guys need a ride up the hill? Got a ride up the hill. We called a friend and they came and got us," Hiban said. 

In the middle of the storm, a Baltimore couple on their wedding dayhad to relocate to a restaurant to say their 'I do's' before once again being evacuated.

"I married the girl of my dreams. We are just happy everyone is safe, still trying to get everyone safe... it was a chaotic day," Craig Symbor said. 

Ellicott City was just getting back to normal with more businesses open than before the 2016 flood.

"It was incredible, so many of the businesses did come back and some didn't. Now with this happening so close again, we're going to have to watch that all over again," neighbor Ken Kessler said. 

This boutique finally reopened again, after closing down in 2016.

"It's hard to see every time it rains here, the community's heart stops and I just don't know what we are going to do, but I can tell you that it is the strongest community I've ever been a part of and we are gonna rebuild this place the best we can," neighbor Philemon Kendzierski said. 

As the water recedes, a determination has set in yet again, to show the world what Ellicott City strong means.

"It takes a lot of work to come back after something like this but I think they will. The community will pull together and we will do it again," Kessler said.