Join Us to Keep District One Safe from Floods!

Oella & Catonsville Historically Flood

What can we do to prepare for our next storm?

Baltimore County, Maryland

SIGN (and share) THIS PETITION

TO: Baltimore County Executive, Katherine Klausmeier and Congressman John Olszewski

We, the undersigned, petition you to take the following actions to keep Baltimore County Council District 1 safe from floods:

INSTALL a high water gauge on the Patapsco River Bridge along Frederick Road.

CORRECT the 11/02/23 FEMA Map in partnership with the Oella and Catonsville neighborhoods.

ASSESS & FUND a Patapsco River Non-Tidal Watershed Model in collaboration with Howard County; Carroll County; Baltimore City; State of Maryland; USACE & FEMA

IMPLEMENT changes to Baltimore County zoning regulations, to stop development in the Patapsco River watershed and in other flood risk areas in Oella and Catonsville.

IDENTIFY District 1 Tributaries and at-risk areas that have flooded since Hurricane Agnes in 1972 and PLAN & FUND District 1 flood mitigation projects, for public safety and to prevent public infrastructure, home & business damage, and stream erosion in partnership with our community.

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SEE OUR HISTORY

In 1972, Hurricane Agnes devastated our area, destroying homes, businesses, the Patapsco River Bridge and causing River Road to collapse into the river in Patapsco Valley State Park.

Only one of three Ellicott family homes could be saved on the Wilkins-Rogers Mill property, in Baltimore County.

  

The George Ellicott home was ultimately moved 15 years later, to a safe location out of the floodplain across Frederick Road, where it stands today.

    

In 2016, another storm shocked our area followed by 2018 when Catonsville and Oella received over 10” of rain in four to five hours (Patch, Catonsville, MD, May 29, 2018), creating flood damage to county infrastructure, homes and businesses. A "river" developed over Frederick Road at the Five Oaks Swim Club.

Sadly, three lives were lost in the 2016 and 2018 raging floodwaters.

In addition to the Patapsco River, we are impacted by surface flooding and many tributaries in our area, including the stream along Thistle Road and Cooper Branch, which continues to flood Frederick Road and Oella Avenue, and erode Trolley Trail #9.

   

We are also impacted by stormwater from the Hudson, New Cut and Tiber tributaries in Old Ellicott City, Howard County.

Old Ellicott City has implemented stormwater mitigation and flood safety projects: a flood alert siren, flood evacuation signs, mitigation ponds and plans for a mile-long, 18' diameter Extended North Tunnel with the outfall across the river from Granite Hill on Oella Avenue. Stormwater will continue to flow downhill, from Old Ellicott City's 4 square mile drainage basin into Baltimore County.

The Wilkins-Rogers Mill at 27 Frederick Road, has also been mapped for its drainage basin. This property in Baltimore County not only floods from the Patapsco River and Old Ellicott City streams, but our own Cooper Branch. The drainage basin is 297 square miles. (https://streamstats.usgs.gov/ss/)

A new FEMA Flood Plain map became effective 11/2/23. Even though the Patapsco River and surrounding areas, including the entire Wilkins-Rogers Mill property is in a flood zone, the mill "building" has been removed.

  

                                 2008                                                                 2023

 

Flood stories from your neighbors:

"We had to install three French drains in our backyard so our basement would
stop flooding from all of the hydro pressure on the foundation." - Becky

"I live less than a quarter mile from the mill. There is absolutely no way that the
mill is on a higher level of ground than the rest of the floodplain zone." - Heather

"My house was flooded during the 10 inches of rain with sewer water due to rain." - Frances

"We have been so fortunate not to have been severely negatively impacted by
increasingly severe weather in Catonsville and OEC. But we personally know so
many people who have been. We support planning to prevent future disasters." - Giordana

"We, the taxpayers, will be forced to pay to clean up the problem time and time again." - Amy

"Using floodplains to build housing creates too much risk." - Mark

Oella·Catonsville Flood Solutions, in partnership with Ellicott City Flood Solutions

Oella·Catonsville Flood Solutions is a member of Anthropocene Alliance, the nation’s largest coalition of frontline communities fighting for environmental & climate justice.

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