Ellicott City’s Rebirth Will Require Careful Planning and Cooperation

June 11, 2018 Guest Contributor

Ellicott City, Md.

By Scott Berkowitz

It is truly shocking that we now face another flooding tragedy in Ellicott City. As the warnings intensified, and the social media feeds started capturing footage of intensely raging waters on May 27, the pain of our neighbors and community became all too real.

Dr. Scott Berkowitz is a a candidate for Democratic Central Committee of Howard County. (Courtesy Photo)

The once-in-a-thousand years flood was somehow back — in just two short years — and among the heartache and pain was the tragic loss of a heroic Maryland National Guardsman, Staff Sgt. Eddison Hermond Jr., who was aiding a woman in need. Fortunately, through the efforts of many, approximately 300 people were rescued.

In the midst of this tragedy, we should be thoughtful in our approach, engage in a deliberate and collaborative multi-stakeholder process, and not jump prematurely to conclusions. Such a complex situation is unlikely to have quick and simple solutions.

Ellicott City’s historic district was founded in 1772 as a mill town. Hard-working people built and sustained a prospering community. There has been flooding through the years, and most recent was the devastating flood in 2016 when more than six inches of rain fell in a 2-3-hour period.

It is said that the tragedy of loss can bring people together, and through its spirit and resilience, Ellicott City responded through an extensive clean-up and rebuilding effort. A CBS article notes that 96 percent of the area’s businesses were back in operation by 2018, and some new businesses had come to Main Street. A Howard County government-commissioned assessment suggested that many tens of millions of dollars would be needed for long-term infrastructure improvements.

Efforts were well underway, but there was much work still to be done as this next flood hit. It is suggested that after a two-year effort to secure funding, some of the projects had begun, with contributions of $1 million from Federal Emergency Management Administration and another $400,000 from Howard County officials toward Ellicott City’s infrastructure.

Unfortunately, eight inches of rain in a six-hour period was the perfect recipe for disaster in 2018.

There are differing principles and approaches to reducing flooding, as well as numerous perspectives on rebuilding. Prior to this most recent flood, current efforts included a dedicated task force, expert involvement and deeply interested community members.

While I do believe, as do most, that people and our activities have changed the earth and the climate in fundamental ways, there were likely many contributing factors to this particular tragedy. We must resist the urge to look in the rearview mirror and point fingers, but rather we should look forward in focusing on timely solutions, knowing now what we did not two years ago.

With this in mind, there are many fundamental questions that our community needs to address, and we should strive for a collaborative approach involving local, state and federal authorities in answering these questions:

Should we rebuild, and if so, how do we approach the rebuilding process differently this time?
How can the State of Maryland and the federal government most effectively support — financially and otherwise – local needs and capabilities for more sustainable solutions?
To what extent has building and development contributed to these events, and if so, what might short-, medium- and long-term goals for Howard County look like in moving forward?
Through what process, and structure, is resolution on these issues most likely to be obtained?
Can government and the community unite around solutions, de-politicize as much as possible, and are we prepared to do what it takes to realize these solutions?

There is reason to believe that investment in thoughtful planning will serve the community well. A 2018 National Institute of Building Sciences report found that for every dollar spent on federal disaster mitigation, $6 is saved in recovery.

However, as we look forward, it is important that we not forget the most immediate needs of our community, as the storm left a wake of destruction and displacement in very real terms. In the spirit of tikkun olam (repairing the world), please consider some of these many opportunities to contribute:

For business relief, please check out: the Ellicott City Partnership: (visitoldellicottcity.com)
For help for families, please check out: Howard County Food Bank: (cac-hc.org)
For environmental assistance, please check out: Patapsco Heritage Greenway (patapsco.org) or Howard EcoWorks (howardecoworks.org)
For assisting the Patapsco Park, please check out Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park (fpvsp.org)

We do not know what the future will bring, but we do know that another flood is possible, and so we should consider our next steps carefully. The resilience and determination of Ellicott City is without question.

Let’s do our best as we aid those currently in need and also to ensure our community can be prepared for whatever Mother Nature may throw our way next.

Scott Berkowitz M.D., MBA, is associate professor of cardiology and senior medical director of accountable care for Johns Hopkins Medicine. Dr. Berkowitz is also a candidate for Democratic Central Committee of Howard County, and is running as a member of the HoCo Forward team.