Two people are confirmed dead after heavy rains caused severe flooding in Ellicott City Saturday night, according to Baltimore County Police.
Jessica Watsula, 35, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania and Joseph Anthony Blevins, 38, of Windsor Mill, are the confirmed victims.
Watsula's body was found at about 2:20 a.m. Sunday. Her brother told police that she and family members were visiting Ellicott City when the flash flood occurred.
They were inside the victim's vehicle, attempting to leave, when the vehicle was swept away. The occupants got out of the vehicle, and all but the victim were rescued and transported to Howard County General Hospital.
The victim was swept away and eventually found about 200 yards from the Ilchester Bridge.
Officials say about 6-inches of rain fell in a short period of time Saturday, leading to flash flooding and dangerous surges of water.
24-hr rainfall totals. #MDwx https://t.co/gpE0NsHZQV pic.twitter.com/DNApC6eXmh
— Adrienne Green (@adrienneABC2) July 31, 2016
Howard County Police Chief Gary Gardner said one of the people killed was a pedestrian and the other was in a vehicle with another person when the person got distressed, climbed out of the vehicle, and was carried down stream. The other person in that vehicle made it to safety, Gardner said.
Police talking about 2 deaths from last night's flooding in #HowardCounty #ellicottcity @ABC2NEWS pic.twitter.com/FCMWdSoXDC
— Nadia Singh (@NadiaSinghNews) July 31, 2016
"We've never seen devastation like this here," Kittleman said.
Officials evaluated about 200 buildings Sunday, of those four or five will be classified as destroyed and another 20 to 30 buildings will be categorized as having significant damage.
Kittleman: #EllicottCity "looks like a war zone," after major flooding this weekend. More at 630 on @ABC2NEWS pic.twitter.com/Hb89sj4mxZ
— Nadia Singh (@NadiaSinghNews) July 31, 2016
Police are providing 24-hour security to make sure no unauthorized people go into the evacuated area.
https://t.co/8wGDJbYtBG to donate $$ to #oldellicottcity businesses.. Red Cross setting up fund for residents affected by flooding
— Megan Knight (@Knightfromabc2) July 31, 2016
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