Western Port, Maryland (AP) — Floods in rural western Maryland forced primary school evacuation Tuesday afternoon as water began violating the second floor, local officials said.
Downtown homes and businesses also flooded with floods following hours of heavy rain.
Authorities have reassured the public that students and staff are safe, as concern parents and other community members posted on social media, wondering how long the emergency will last at Westernport Elementary School.
Alleghany County spokesman Katy Kenney said responders will use rescuers to safely evacuate the school. Around 150 students and 50 adults were evacuated during the 15 boat trip.
Kenny said additional evacuations were ongoing in nearby areas and reports of people trapped in cars and homes, but no injuries were reported late Tuesday afternoon. She said emergency crews from nearby counties were helping with the response.
Aaron Sturings, 23, rushed to school to pick up his sister on Tuesday afternoon, but soon realized he wasn’t building a car. Starling said he jumped onto the fence and walked through the sparkling water.
“I knew the car wouldn’t go through, so I had to find another route,” he said.
Stallings said it was on the second and third floors when the kids got inside. A few minutes after he found his sister with the help of the principal, the water level on the first floor had already risen to his lap once more, rushing under the school door.
After he returned outside with his sister, the food stall turned around and captured a video of the scene. There, parked cars and trash cans floated in the school’s parking lot.
The flooding, including major arteries, has closed roads throughout the area, according to the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office.
Westernport Mayor Judy Hamilton said the town is prone to severe flooding in the past, but he didn’t expect it today.
“It just seemed like it happened at once,” she said. “My heart is broken.”
She said evacuated students will be taken to higher ground and evacuated to a church building where they will be kept safe by teachers and staff until their parents can pick them up.
With a population of less than 2,000, Westernport is located in West Maryland along the West Virginia border. Its downtown was built around George Creek flowing into the Potomac River North Branch.
The National Weather Service reported widespread flash flooding in the area Tuesday afternoon.
Hamilton said he was trying to contact the governor of Maryland and request emergency assistance. She said the town last suffered catastrophic floods in 1996.
“But we’re strong and we’re constantly fighting back,” she said.
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