ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (AP) – Business owners in Ellicott City, Maryland, say they are determined to rebuild and pull together as a community again after the second terrible flood in less than two years.

Simon Cortes, owner of La Palapa Grill & Cantina, said Monday it’s “a horrible time,” and his business had about 1 foot (0.3 meter) of water inside. But he says the town has been through it before.

He says he has a lot of friends there, and he feels “like it’s our duty to make sure that we rebuild and open back up.”

Randy Marriner, who owns the Manor Hill Tavern, says he hopes to be one of the first businesses to reopen and “be a bright light to our brothers and sisters in Ellicott City.”

However, the man still missing from the flood is a former employee of his. Marriner says he’s heartsick that Eddison Hermond is missing.

WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON:

>>MORE STORIES