Historic Ellicott City changed from an enchanting town into ahorrifying flood scene in a matter of moments as heavy rainscreated rushing floodwaters several feet high on July 30.

The currents were strong enough to move vehicles like they wereMatchbox cars, carry off street signs, and trap pedestrians whowere enjoying a Saturday night out in the Howard County, Md.,neighborhood.

Main Street and nearby thoroughfares are lined with picturesqueboutiques, restaurants and art galleries, attracting locals andtourists alike, many of whom rushed to help rescue pedestrians anddrivers caught up in the fast-moving waters.

6 inches of rain in less than 2 hours

As six inches of rain fell in under two hours, water levels on thestreet rose so quickly that patrons in local restaurants reportedhaving to move to higher floors in order to escape the flooding,which was as high as some of the awnings for the businesses.Ellicott City has flooded before and a high water mark on MainStreet shows flood levels of 14.5 feet from Hurricane Agnes in1972.

Named after the three Ellicott brothers who settled in the areain 1772, Ellicott City is built adjacent to the Patapsco River withmany of the structures nestled along the steep hillsides. MainStreet stretches from the top of a large hill down to the PatapscoRiver, which rose a reported 14 feet in under two hours that night.The town’s topography made it easier for the water to travel agreat distance in a very short period of time.

Two individuals were killed when they were trapped in cars thatwere carried off by the floodwaters. Jessica Watsula, 35, wasvisiting from Lebanon, Pa., and Joseph Blevins, 38, of WindsorMill, Md., was out to dinner with his girlfriend.

Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said that Main Streetwould be closed for the foreseeable future as debris was removedand buildings were secured. More than 170 water-damaged cars neededto be removed from the area and some stores are completelyinaccessible because the sidewalks and roadway were completelywashed away.

Adjusters onsite

The area is the home to dozens of small businesses with names likeAll Time Toys, Discoveries, Forget Me Not Factory, Sweet ElizabethJane, Gramp’s Attic Books, Bean Hollow and Tea on the Tiber.According to The Baltimore Sun, at least four buildingsalong Main Street were totally destroyed and another 20 to 30experienced significant damage. How much of the losses sustained bythese businesses are covered by insurance will depend on whether ornot they had flood insurance, and the limits of their generalliability policies. Adjusters will be examining the losses over thenext few days to determine how insurers can help owners andresidents recover.

The Property Casualty InsurersAssociation of America (PCI) encourages residents and businessowners to contact their insurer as soon as possible to begin therecovery process. “It’s important to contact your insurance agentor company right away to get the claims process started,” explainedOyango Snell, PCI’s regional manager.

Property owners should photograph damage

Property owners should photograph as much of the damage as it issafe to and make an inventory of what was lost or damaged, sincethis can help expedite the recovery process, added Snell.

“If your vehicle was damaged in this recent round of rain,contact your insurance company or agent immediately to see if youhave coverage. Generally, water damage to a vehicle is typicallycovered under an auto policy’s comprehensive insurance coverage,”said Snell.

Here is a look at some of the damage sustained during theflooding:

A worker can only access a utility pole via a bucket truckbecause the surrounding sidewalk and road was washed away. Powerand phone lines to dozens of businesses were knocked out by thestorm. (Photo: Mark Miller/Facebook)

This view of Main Street shows how the rushing watercollapsed the street and sidewalks, preventing access to any of thebusinesses. (Photo: Mark Miller/Facebook)

Sweet Elizabeth Jane was just one of the shops severelydamaged by the rain. The vintage-inspired store carried clothing,accessories, gifts and decorative items. (Photo: MarkMiller/Facebook)

Cars and other debris traveled down Main Street to thisbridge that leads into adjacent Baltimore County. (Photo: MarkMiller/Facebook)

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (green shirt), observes someof the damage from the storm. Hogan declared a state of emergencyin Howard County, which allows officials to bring in additional aidto the area. (Photo: Mark Miller/Facebook)

A view of the collapsed street in front of Salon Marielle onMain Street. (Photo: Mark Miller/Facebook)

Related: Deadliest U.S. flash flooding since 2010 hits WestVirginia [photos]