ELLICOTT CITY, MD — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has declared a state of emergency for Howard County, effective at 10 a.m. on Sunday.

The declaration has led to assistance from the Maryland Emergency Management Agency after Saturday night's storm that sent vehicles swimming, storefronts crumbling and citizens scrambling to get out of historic Ellicott City. Two people died in the flood. Hogan's response followed a local emergency declaration. Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman declared a state of emergency at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday after flash floods hit parts of Ellicott City and Columbia. The declaration makes the county eligible for state assistance.

County officials asked citizens to stay away from Main Street in downtown Ellicott City Sunday morning due to safety issues caused by the storm, including a broken water main and natural gas leak.

Another water main break was disrupting water service in Elkridge, on Montgomery Road at Bauman Drive.

Centennial Park was closed until 10 a.m. on Sunday for a damage assessment. It has since reopened.