One woman drowned and more than a hundred others were rescued after severe thunderstorms and flooding lashed parts of Maryland this weekend, Howard County officials said Sunday.
The woman’s body was found near downtown Ellicott City, which was swamped by flash floods Saturday night, according to Howard County Office of Emergency Management Press Secretary Andy Barth. He said it was unclear whether the woman was in a car at the time.
Ellicott City is about 12 miles west of Baltimore.
“People formed human chains to help out others,” Barth said.
Video from the scene shows cars being swept away in roads that look like rivers.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has declared a state of emergency in Howard County.
“The thunderstorms caused extensive damage to property and infrastructure in the central part of the state, including intense flooding in the historic town of Ellicott City,” the governor said in a statement. Hogan surveyed the damaged area Sunday morning.
The National Weather Service said more than six inches of rain fell Saturday night in Ellicott City within a span of three hours or less.
More scattered rain and thunderstorms are forecast for the area, according to the National Weather Service.
“The floods are getting worse across the country and scientists are linking this to climate change,” said CNN meteorologist Sean Morris. “Floods will get worse and droughts will get worse across the world as global temperatures increase.”
Courtney Weglein told CNN affiliate WJZ the water got so high in Ellicott City Saturday night that a man had to be carried to safety.
“It was insane, she said. “It was a flash flood. And I literally came here, I thought we’re going to have dinner. Within five minutes, it was panic and my friend was pulling someone out of there, and I’ve never seen anything like it … all I can say is, I’m just happy to be alive.”