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Flash Floods Force Dramatic Boat Rescue at Maryland Elementary School

Over 200 students and staff were evacuated as floodwaters breached the second floor, with ongoing rescue efforts across Allegany County.

Members of the Oakland Volunteer Fire Dept rescue students in Westernport, Md., on May 13, 2025.
Cars are submerged in a parking lot of Westernport Elementary School as flooding forces the evacuation of the school, and downtown homes and businesses were inundated with rising floodwaters in rural Westernport, Md., Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Aaron Stallings via AP)
Flooding in Allegany County, Maryland on May 13, 2025. Credit: Barton Hose Company No. 1

Overview

  • Heavy rainfall caused Georges Creek to rise over seven feet in six hours, nearing record levels and triggering flash flood emergencies in Westernport, Barton, and Piedmont.
  • Rescue teams used 15 boats to evacuate 150 students and 50 adults from Westernport Elementary School, where water reached the second floor.
  • Evacuated individuals were safely sheltered in a nearby church, and no injuries have been reported, according to local officials.
  • Flooding has closed major roads across Allegany County, and additional evacuations are underway as emergency crews respond to reports of people trapped in homes and vehicles.
  • Westernport, historically prone to flooding, is seeking state assistance as officials warn of continued rainfall and challenging conditions in the region.