Floods are the most common natural disaster in the U.S., and Howard County knows the risks well. Ellicott City alone has suffered 15 major floods in its history, including the devastating flash floods of 2016 and 2018.

A new Flood Mitigation Plan shows that, even with years of investment, the County remains vulnerable. In a 100-year flood, a flood at a scale that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year, 548 buildings countywide could be damaged. Ellicott City leads the list with 214 at risk, followed by Columbia, Elkridge, and smaller clusters elsewhere.

The estimated financial cost is high: $832 million in losses. To put that in perspective, that’s twice the Department of Public Works’ annual budget, 3% of the County’s entire economy, and hundreds of times greater than the damage from a typical storm.

The County is responding with major projects:

• New flood control infrastructure in Ellicott City, including tunnels and culverts.
• More stormwater inspections and upgrades in vulnerable watersheds.
• Stronger public education and early warning systems.

With climate change driving heavier, more frequent storms, mitigation is a race against time. Every culvert upgrade and drainage project reduces future losses — but the scale of risk makes clear why flood preparedness is one of the County’s top priorities.