Officials hope to reopen the closed stretch of Main Street in Ellicott City to pedestrians around Sept. 16, a month and a half after floods ravaged the historic district.
Residents and business owners will be allowed into the affected area for five days this week and next to clean, pack and move out of their buildings, Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman announced Wednesday.
The area will then be closed again for three weeks to allow county and utility crews to do "critical work" and ensure the area is safe to reopen, Kittleman said.
The announcement came as the state Board of Public Works approved $2.5 million in funding for aid for the community.
The money comes from a state Department of Housing and Community Development account for small, minority- and women-owned businesses. It can be used for zero- and low-interest loans to help small business and property owners.
The Hogan administration said it would ask the General Assembly's Legislative Policy Committee to approve the transfer of an additional $2.5 million from the state's Catastrophic Event Fund to another housing department program for additional aid to Ellicott City.
Kittleman welcomed the $5 million in aid, While Ellicott City had made much progress with its recovery, he said, "there is still much more to be done."
Property owners, business owners, residents and workers may return to Main Street from dawn to dusk Thursday through Monday. Many have been unable to return to their properties for extended periods since July 30, when a torrent of water roared through the town, killing two people, ruining shops and restaurants, and washing cars into the Patapsco River.
Building owners may take contractors to start recovery plans or for emergency remediation, Kittleman said, but "this access is not intended to be used for rebuilding."
A supply truck provided by the community will distribute cleaning supplies at the check-in areas.
Credentialing and staging is to begin at 7 a.m. each day. On Thursday, Friday and Monday, credentials may be picked up at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 3695 Rogers Ave. On Saturday and Sunday, the credentialing station will be at the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive.
Cars, vans, pickups and small box trucks will be permitted, but those intending to bring a vehicle are required to call 410-313-2900 for approval and scheduling. Vehicles will be scheduled in six-hour blocks of time.
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