Ellicott City, Maryland, hit by devastating flash flood for second time since 2016

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story stated that Sgt. Eddison Hermond was swept away by floodwaters while trying to help a woman save her cat. At the time, this was the story that news outlets were reporting. Since then, the woman, Kate Bowman, herself has stepped forward to clarify that Hermond was trying to save her, not her cat. "If he passed, I want people to know he passed trying to save a person, not a cat. He was trying to save me. I want his family to know that," Bowman said.

Severe flash floods swept through Ellicott City, Maryland, on Sunday. This was the second time that Ellicott City, which sits just 13 miles west of Baltimore, was hit by a severe flash flood since 2016. At least one person has died in the flooding.

"They say this is a once every 1,000-year flood and we've had two of them in two years," Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said. He promised that the affected area would receive "every bit of assistance" possible.

Eddison Hermond, 39, had reportedly left a birthday party he was attending on Sunday to try to help a woman get to safety when the floodwaters carried him away. Hermond joined the National Guard in 2009, after serving 10 years in the Air Force. He was assigned to Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown, Maryland, but was not on active duty at the time of the accident.

On Monday, rescue workers were still looking for any sign of Hermond. His body was found on Wednesday.

In 2016, the Ellicott City was hit by 6 1/2 inches of water in two to three hours. On Sunday, the city saw 8 inches over six hours, with most of the rain falling during a three-hour window.

"It's significantly higher than it was before,"Jessica Ur, a server at Ellicott City's Pure Wine Cafe told The Baltimore Sun. Two people were killed during the 2016 flooding.

The government of Howard County, which includes Ellicott City, released a statement on Monday warning residents to stay out of areas hit by flood damage. The Government's official Twitter account tweeted:

#EllicottCityMD RESIDENTS & BUSINESS OWNERS: We understand that u r anxious to claim ur belongings & assess property damage, but while shoring operations continue we cannot safely allow u in the #ECFlood area. Pls continue to monitor social media for updates. Thx u 4 ur patience.

#EllicottCityMD RESIDENTS & BUSINESS OWNERS: We understand that u r anxious to claim ur belongings & assess property damage, but while shoring operations continue we cannot safely allow u in the #ECFlood area. Pls continue to monitor social media for updates. Thx u 4 ur patience.

— Howard County Gov't (@HoCoGov) May 28, 2018

Radar estimated precipitation along with actual reported rainfall amounts in the Baltimore-Ellicott City area. pic.twitter.com/eCfIv68thK

— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) May 28, 2018

DEVELOPING: Flash flooding, water rescues reported in Maryland as heavy rain soaks much of the state. https://t.co/CfWjWkGHWA

Video shows water rushing down Main Street in Ellicott City, just outside Baltimore. It's the same street devastated by flash flooding in July 2016. pic.twitter.com/b3DMOcVswi

— ABC News (@ABC) May 27, 2018