Boy missing as flash floods hit eastern states

An atmospheric river slammed several mid-Atlantic states on Tuesday, triggering flash floods and evacuations. Parts of western Maryland, northeastern West Virginia, and southern Pennsylvania were soaked, prompting early school dismissals and other state-of-emergency operations.

In Maryland, Allegany County search and rescue workers evacuated about 200 elementary school children and teachers by boat when flood waters nearly reached the second floor of Westernport Elementary School. Georges Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River, rose more than 7 feet in six hours and became over 12 feet deep by Tuesday night. Maryland Department of Emergency Management and Maryland State Police have been deployed to assist local officials in several counties, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Tuesday night. Flood warnings remained in effect for Allegany and Washington counties until Wednesday afternoon, and residents were ordered to stay off the roads and shelter in place Wednesday morning.

Officials in the Pennsylvania borough of Meyersdale in Somerset County issued a state of emergency for residents with some in lower areas being ordered to evacuate. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued a state of emergency for the northeastern Mineral County noting several areas of flash flooding across the county. 

Where’s the missing boy? In north-central Virginia, a 12-year-old boy walking on a roadway near a creek was overtaken by the water and swept away Tuesday evening, Albemarle County Fire Rescue said. Rescue workers worked to find the boy for about three hours but had to pause their efforts due to low visibility and safety concerns, rescue officials said late Tuesday night. Albemarle County Fire Rescue was not organizing search parties and asked residents not to start searching for the boy, according to a Wednesday morning post. No update was given on the boy’s whereabouts by mid-Wednesday morning.