Publication Date July 1, 2016 | CNN

Maryland county official: 'Never seen such devastation'

United States
Photo: CNN
Photo: CNN

The flood that devastated downtown Ellicott City, Maryland, killing two people and destroying or damaging at least 25 buildings, was the worst in memory of a 57-year-old county executive.

Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said the city was flood prone but ones brought by hurricanes paled in comparison to what two hours of rain did Saturday night.

    The 6 inches of rain between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. was the equivalent of a month of normal rainfall, he said.

    "We've never seen such devastation in Howard County for over 50 years," he said. "In the past, it has been bad. It has never been close to being this bad ...

    More than 170 damaged cars are being towed to impound lots, Gardner said.

    The county has evaluated 200 of the buildings downtown and found that four or five are destroyed, while another 20 to 30 are heavily damaged, said Robert Frances, director of the of the county Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits