Overview

• The boy, whose identity remains withheld and age is under review, was swept into an open storm drain by rapidly rising floodwaters on July 31 and later died despite rescue efforts.
• First responders from the Mount Airy Police Department, volunteer firefighters and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office shifted their operation from rescue to recovery when the current proved too strong.
• Neighbors have placed flowers and memorials at the drain site and are urging town officials to install metal grates or barriers to prevent similar tragedies.
• The storm dumped up to 5 inches of rain in Mount Airy and fueled widespread flash flooding across the mid-Atlantic, prompting the National Weather Service to extend regional flash flood watches.
• Community members and local leaders are calling for upgrades to urban drainage infrastructure to address safety vulnerabilities exposed by the incident.