other hand and the other side of the street, the change could benefit other businesses, like donna sanger's and is invested in what the town decides. that's why she's rebuilding. >> if we can get through that period of time, it's an opportunity, too >> reporter: because taking down the opposite buildings means her property would overlook a valuable new green space, a river walk, mitigating water and attracting business to her and her neighbors. >> they know if they hold on, they bring the buildings back, the county does what we think they'll do, in the long run they'll have valuable real estate last friday the county for ellicott city approved a one-year freeze on development in the area where storm water runs into the river under its historic main street about 600 housing units would be put on hold according to county estimates. i've seen a lot of disasters in my time, it was stunning >> it's terrible and it's hammed twice now. does ellicott city believe if they tear down the buildings on the opposite side of the street, and build a park, will that solve the problem? >> they believe so tha

first time around in 2016, on the city's nearly 250-year-old main street shop old owners like donna sangerrelessly to rebuild. >> there was this enthusiasm, let's put on a show. let's bring the town back. >> reporter: but this time -- >> this is more like a funeral >> reporter: now they feel these floods are the new normal. because this historic town is a blip on the map but a blueprint for developing disaster. real estate development in the face of increasingly wet weather. joe sexton is a scientist who uses satellite images to map changes in ecosystems. you had two 1,000-year floods within two years of each other how did that happen? >> the overwhelming factor was intense rain storms. climate change due to warming oceans, changing atmospheric patterns more water is falling. on top of that, we're intensifying land use, clearing natural vegetation and replacing it with concrete, asphalt, through which water does not penetrate. >> reporter: ellicott city was built north of the patapsco river. several tributaries run through the town to the river. nose water currents were the energy for this