ALLEGANY COUNTY, Md. — On Tuesday, a sudden and severe flash flood struck the small town of Westernport, prompting dramatic rescues, including the evacuation of Westernport Elementary School. More than 150 students and 50 staff members were trapped as water surged up to the second floor, with first responders using boats to transport people to safety.

Dustin Nash was among worried parents who raced toward the school as floodwater rose.

Nash was captured in photos and video carrying his 9-year-old daughter on his shoulders through floodwaters that reached chest height, while a nearby pickup truck began to float away.

Nash reported that he arrived just as the school’s lower floor was flooding, with teachers sheltering children on the dry upper floors, awaiting rescue. He expressed his shock as he made his way toward the school.

“I just panicked when we first saw the parking lot. I just thought what every other parent would think: I had to get to my daughter. So that’s what I did. I jumped the fence, got to my daughter, and got her out of there,” Nash said.

“I’m not gonna sit around and wait for somebody else to come get my kid,” Nash added.

His daughter Aria said she was frightened by the experience. 

“I was really glad and thankful that he came and got me,” Aria said.

A short time later, responding rescuers used boats to bring out the rest of the children and staff at the school.

While at first, the upper floors were considered a safe haven for students and teachers to ride out the flood, a report of an odor of gas on the first floor prompted rescuers to begin a boat evacuation urgently, according to Chris Lafferty, deputy chief of Tri-Towns EMS.

Lafferty described how quickly the situation deteriorated. “We went from just kind of puddles on the street to the whole town underwater in at most an hour.”

While not faulting Nash for following his instincts, authorities say wading or driving through flood water are the leading causes of deaths during flood events, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Authorities caution others to avoid entering flood waters at all costs.

The full evacuation of Westernport Elementary by boat required about 15 trips in total and left some students stranded overnight at Mountain Ridge High School due to impassable roads. All Allegany County public schools were closed on Wednesday in the aftermath.

The flooding, fueled by 3 to 5 inches of rain in a matter of hours, caused massive damage to Westernport’s downtown area and infrastructure. 

Governor Wes Moore activated Maryland’s emergency operations center, urging residents to take precautions. “I urge all Marylanders to remain vigilant, heed warnings from local officials, and prioritize safety during this time.”

In neighboring Mineral County, West Virginia, Governor Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency as communities there also contended with flash flooding and infrastructure damage.

Cleanup efforts began immediately, with residents and emergency crews working together to clear mud, debris, and water from homes, public buildings, and businesses.

“Everybody’s coming together just trying to clean,” one resident said. “We’ve never seen anything like this.”

As forecasts warn of additional rain, officials remain on high alert, stressing the need for caution and preparedness as Western Maryland begins to recover from one of its most intense flooding events since a similar flood ravaged Westernport in 1996.