Phase 2 of the Ellicott City “Safe and Sound” plan will be announced on April 16th and a public meeting is scheduled for May 2nd. Here is information via a press release today:

Media Contact:

Scott Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412

County Executive Ball to Announce Phase 2 of the Ellicott City “Safe and Sound” Flood Mitigation and Public Safety Plan

ELLICOTT CITY – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced he will detail Phase 2 of his Ellicott City “Safe and Sound” flood mitigation and public safety plan on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. A public meeting has been scheduled for May 2, 2019 in the Howard High School cafeteria, 8700 Old Annapolis Road in Ellicott City, at 7:00 p.m. to provide an opportunity for community input on the plan’s second phase.

Ball announced Phase 1 of the plan in December. That phase featured four critical components: ensuring public safety, supporting business and property owners, keeping Ellicott City’s historic charm, and developing an inclusive, community-driven process.

“I appreciate the extensive participation and input from the community during the last several months,” said Ball. “Ellicott City remains one of Howard County’s most important cultural and economic resources and its safety and security are critical to our County’s future. We are working together as a unified Howard County to address the multiple challenges facing this very special place.”

Since Phase 1 was announced, the County has launched a focused EC Safe and Sound website, purchased a temporary emergency alert system for Ellicott City, held public meetings to assist property owners with applying for flood mitigation grants funds, created an Ellicott City Community Development Corporation exploration committee, and conducted two enhanced stream debris removal actions in nine waterways following severe weather. In the first removal action alone, nearly 14,000 pounds of tree branches, logs, stumps, cinder blocks and other metal was removed. Removal of debris as part of the second action is still underway.

Additionally, Ball has testified in both the Maryland House of Delegates and Senate in support of legislation which would authorize the Maryland Department of the Environment to use the comprehensive flood management grant program to award grants to subdivisions that incurred infrastructure damage caused by a flood on or after January 1, 2009

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No specific details yet on what phase 2 will consist of…so I guess we wait until April 16th. I am happy to see phase 2 being rolled out so soon after phase 1…but I am more interested in the actual details of the plan.

Stay tuned…when the information is announced I will be sure to detail here on the blog…as well as let you know my initial thoughts.

Scott E