Four days after massive floodwaters flushed out businesses and residents in historic Ellicott City, Robert Hooten, president of CBP Constructors on Main Street, says his company plans to donate time and money to assist in the cleanup effort.
The full-service contracting firm, which operates in four states and the District of Columbia, had resided on the second floor at 8167 Main St. for the past year, Hooten said, before Saturday's tragic flooding gutted ground-floor businesses and washed more than 200 cars into the Patapsco River while killing two people. The company temporarily has taken up residence in offices loaned by BTS Software Solutions in Columbia.
"We were really one of the lucky ones," Hooten said Friday afternoon. "Our office was on the second floor and there was virtually no damage to our space, which is surprising. I thought there was going to be roof damage or some windows broken."
Hooten and his associates were allowed inside their offices on Tuesday, where they were able to retrieve their server and computers. Eager to get the business up and running again, Hooten said the Howard County Economic Development Authority connected CBP Constructors with BTS Software Solutions CEO David Tohn in Columbia, who has been offering free office space to displaced businesses.
"I met with David on site Tuesday afternoon and we were in operation on Wednesday," Hooten said. "It's absolutely amazing, the generosity that the business community and the community as a whole have gotten behind."
Allen & Shariff construction company also has offered 30 to 45 days of free office space to affected businesses, according to spokesman Jeff Jacobson, of the Baltimore-based office space rental agency Kinglet.
"We are honored to host Robert Hooten and his team ... for as long as they need the space," Tohn said. "Helping out our fellow Howard County businesses is an absolute no-brainer."
On Friday, Hooten said CBP Constructors is ready to extend its support to neighbors in downtown Ellicott City. So far, the construction company has donated $500 for nine air mattresses to Howard County Housing and Community Development and Columbia Landing Apartments, which are serving displaced residents.
"We're going to be donating our time as soon as we can get down there," Hooten said. "If they'll allow us, CBP Constructors will be involved in the recovery 100 percent. All of our names are on the volunteer list to donate time and money. We know those businesses that are down there. We're down there every day, and we want to go back."
In addition to the necessary safety precautions, Hooten said a top priority will be restoring utilities, such as gas and electricity, before everyone can move back in, something CBP Constructors hopes to help complete. However, the company plans to start on a volunteer basis, expanding their services if needed by the Economic Development Authority.
Sherry Llewellyn, spokeswoman for the Flood Joint Information Center, said Economic Development Authority representatives were not available for comment Friday afternoon.
As an Ellicott City resident, living a half-mile from Main Street, Hooten said his family has also opened its home to a couple of Main Street residents who were displaced.
"I have offered our family basement for a family to use for temporary housing," he said. "I have talked with Grassroots Crisis Intervention [in Columbia] and they're working on [making it possible]."
While many businesses and residents have recovered belongings from the destruction, Hooten said that the cleanup and reconstruction will take time.
"The first order of business is to let the residents and businesses who can get back in safely get back in," he said. "I use that term 'safely' because it requires utilities, sidewalks and parking. Where is everyone going to park because the parking lots are damaged? Nobody really knows the answer until they start thinking about the plan."