Insured or not, flood-ravaged Old Ellicott City small businesses daunted by rebuilding
That's the big if. While some businesses already have launched fundraising efforts, others question whether they'll be able to raise money as they did two years ago.
As before, many of the businesses likely didn't have flood insurance, which is required only of property owners in high-risk flood zones such as
Sunday's flash flooding destroyed her shop and nearby apartment.
It was all the Sangers could salvage in the...
As of Wednesday, a GoFundMe page set up to help her had
"To the people who gave, I love you," Morgan said. "But no one has enough money to rebuild."
There is a limit to what the community can be expected to give, Morgan said, especially for the second catastrophic flood. Like other small business owners who invested in rebuilding or opening businesses after the flood of 2016, she said she expected authorities would take steps to prevent another round of devastation. But many of the proposed improvements will take time and money.
County, state and federal officials went to
"We know it's an emotional and physical time and a financial hardship,"
In the meantime, he and others said, those without flood insurance might be able to tap donations, disaster assistance or small business loans.
When a massive flood hit historic
The 39-year-old National Guardsman, an
After the 2016 flood, the
The nonprofit
"I know there are lots of businesses who don't have flood insurance because it is so expensive and they will need help," said
"I am definitely not rebuilding," Scott said. "I'm not going back there. Not at all. Nothing has been done to fix or alleviate the problem, so I don't have any reason to move back down there."
If you're in need of help, Howard County Government has opened a hotline to provide information and assistance at 410-313-2900. For emergencies, call...
He said the county didn't take the steps needed to prevent the flooding.
"You didn't protect the people there," he said. "You basically put them in harm's way and rolled the dice that there wouldn't be another flood."
Jones has flood insurance. She thought she learned a lesson after the 2016 storm, when she didn't have coverage. But she is not convinced it will help her that much. The process of filing a claim is daunting. Each lost item has to be documented with a photo and proof of value. Many of the items in the store washed away or are covered in debris, Jones said.
She doesn't feel right asking the community for help again.
"How can we ask the public to support us a second time in less than two years?" she asked. "It's not fair. It not right. It's unethical. Our integrity is at stake here."
The town, founded...
Besides, she is not even convinced yet that she should rebuild.
"It's tough this time," she said. "It's not, 'Of course we are coming back.' "
"Our administration is committed to helping those impacted by the recent devastating floods recover as quickly as possible," Gov.
The
The administration reported that it aided 57 people in the state with flood-related claims in 2016, including 42 in
Seeing so many people lacking proper insurance then and now, Redmer urged home and business owners "to contact their agents or brokers and make informed decisions about what kind of coverage they should have."
Kittleman told residents it appeared that utilities were not hit as badly as they were in the 2016 flood, and that 92 percent of gas connections had been restored by BGE.
County officials told the crowd that no thefts had been reported following the flood, and that 198 vehicles had been removed.
The media tours
(Staff Photos by
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Westmoreland issues disaster declaration for high rainfall that caused at least $1.4 million in damage
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