One person killed in Virginia as flash floods strike Mid-Atlantic

A 12-year-old boy was found deceased near Newton Road in Albemarle County at approximately 08:45 local time (LT) on Wednesday, May 14.

The boy had been reported missing on Tuesday, May 13, after being swept away by floodwaters from a nearby creek. Multiple agencies, including Albemarle County Fire Rescue and the Albemarle County Police Department, responded to the report at 17:30 LT and conducted search and rescue operations.

“This is a heartbreaking outcome, and our hearts are with the Sims family and their loved ones,” said Albemarle County Fire Rescue Chief Dan Eggleston on Wednesday.

The flooding was part of a broader severe weather system that brought heavy rainfall to the Mid-Atlantic on Tuesday, prompting Flash Flood Emergencies in parts of Virginia and Maryland.

Allegany County, Maryland, was the first to be placed under a Flash Flood Emergency as waters rose rapidly near Westernport on Tuesday.

Persistent storms dropped between 63.5 and 127 mm (2.5 and 5 inches) of rain within a few hours on Tuesday afternoon in areas including Westernport, Luke, and Barton in Allegany County, Maryland. The flooding prompted dozens of water rescues, and evacuations were conducted at three schools as water submerged roads and entered buildings.

Flash Flood Emergencies were also issued for Greene and Madison counties in Virginia, with around 127 mm (5 inches) of rainfall reported in the area by Tuesday evening.

Georges Creek overflowed its banks, rising to major flood stage and cresting at 3.78 m (12.41 feet) within one hour, placing numerous buildings and roads in Westernport at risk of flooding.

In Greene County, individuals were rescued from two vehicles trapped in rapidly rising water, according to the local sheriff’s office. Authorities closed roads due to flooding and fallen trees.

Jonathan Dayton, Public Information Officer for Potomac Fire Company No. 2, estimated that approximately 200 homes and buildings were flooded in Allegany County.

The company also reported heavy damages due to flooding that had destroyed critical equipment, prompting them to request public donations to aid in recovery on Wednesday.

“Due to recent damage, we have lost all of the recliners and chairs in our lounge, as well as several computer desks. An assessment is still underway to determine the full extent of damage to our electronics and other essential gear,” the company said.

Allegany County Administrator Jason Bennett stated that the flooding rapidly developed into a dangerous situation, requiring swift action from first responders.

“We’re called the mountainside of Maryland because we have mountains on all sides. When there’s a heavy rain event like this, it traps water in the valleys and nearby streams. Yesterday was one of those days when it affected us significantly,” Bennett said.

The last significant flooding in Westernport occurred in 1996 when Georges Creek overflowed.

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Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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