In the aftermath of the historic flood that struck Maryland last month, organizations and volunteers are making efforts to rebuild and offer aid to affected communities.

On the afternoon of May 27, heavy rain totaling up to 13 inches caused flash flooding in many parts of the greater Baltimore region. The storm caused significant damage and sparked water rescues in several parts of the region, particularly around the Patapsco River. The event, which claimed the life of National Guard Sgt. Eddison Hermond, occurred less than two years after a similarly destructive flood struck central Maryland in the summer of 2016.

In Ellicott City’s Historic District, which had born the brunt of the 2016 storm, floodwaters caused serious damage to buildings – many of which had just been rebuilt from the prior flood – and washed away cars along Main Street. The communities of Catonsville and Arbutus, which are adjacent to UMBC, also experienced heavy flooding, with various road and bridge closures taking place in Catonsville.

Despite the difficulties that these communities face, many of their residents and workers quickly set out to rebuild their neighborhoods; government agencies, nonprofit organizations and other groups similarly worked to provide aid to the region.

In Catonsville, crews from the Baltimore County Department of Public Works, as well as local fire stations, were reported to have pumped sewage and water out of over 400 basements; several roads also received maintenance and were reopened within weeks of the flood taking place. Nonprofit organizations also provided assistance with insurance claims and flood relief services, among other concerns.

In historic Ellicott City, where the damage was most acute, shops on Old Columbia Pike have begun reopening nearly three weeks after the weather event, though individuals must pass a police checkpoint before entering the region. One restaurant in the area, Manor Hill Tavern, has been serving free food and drinks since June 2 to residents, workers and business owners on Main Street, which currently remains closed. Likewise, other businesses have also contributed to flood recovery efforts through donations.

The UMBC administration has also offered support to its community following the flash floods, noting in an email that many of the university’s members “live, work, and frequent businesses in the affected areas.” The email, which comes from UMBC’s President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous, adds that “UMBC is committed to supporting the local community through recovery efforts, sharing knowledge and resources to help with cleanup and, we hope, to reduce future flood risk.”

Residents or other individuals who would like to assist in recovery efforts can provide assistance in the form of direct volunteering, as efforts are still ongoing. Donations can also be made to the Howard County Community Relief Fund, the Ellicott City Partnership, the American Red Cross Greater Chesapeake Region or other charitable causes working to provide relief to the region.

A single light can’t illuminate a city or a nation, but it can ignite a movement that changes the world. This fall, Critical Social Justice: Ignite will explore how a burning commitment to create a better future can inspire activism among individuals and communities.

This is the UMBC Women’s Center’s 6th Critical Social Justice (CSJ) initiative. CSJ has always been an opportunity to bring our campus community together to spark innovative ideas, inspire creative inquiry, and begin new collaborations. This year, in addition to exploring what unites us, we want to create space to look at what separates us and how we can bridge those expanses.

We hope to continue to grow the inclusivity of CSJ by helping more people feel welcome and comfortable engaging in challenging conversations about equity and justice, across all racial and ethnic identities, genders, sexualities, political ideologies, academic fields, and life experiences. From dancers to coders, from seasoned activists to those looking for ways to begin impacting change around their passions, CSJ can be for all of us.

Throughout CSJ week, October 22-26, 2018, participants will explore how to harness partnership to achieve things that may be out of our reach as individuals. How can we use our strengths, and learn from our challenges, to become the community we want to be — one that truly exemplifies inclusive excellence?

Deanna Zandt; photo by Vu Gandin Le

We are pleased to announce that this year’s Critical Social Justice: Ignite keynote speaker will be Deanna Zandt, a media and technology expert who collaborates with leaders in social change work to create clear and persuasive strategies. In addition to her work in media strategy, Zandt is an expert on women in technology, hosts a podcast on mental health and emotional wellness, and writes and illustrates graphic stories and comics.

Follow the CSJ blog and Women’s Center Facebook and Twitter (#csjignite) for updates on scheduled events and other news. The full calendar of events for the week can be found here.  If you’re organizing a related event that week that might be included on the CSJ calendar, or for more information, please email womenscenter@umbc.edu.

Critical Social Justice is made possible through partnerships across UMBC, this year including special collaborations with Residential Life and the Center for Women in Technology. Please see our co-sponsor page for more information. 

Helpful Links:

The full calendar of CSJ: Ingite events

The What You Need to Know about CSJ Ignite series

Be sure to sign up for the CSJ Walking Tour by 10/24! RSVP here.