Extended rain across the region caused significant flooding in Western Maryland on Tuesday, May 13, and Morgan County and Hancock were seeing the remnants of that storm washing down the Potomac River overnight and into Wednesday. The Potomac at Paw Paw had topped Moderate Flood Stage by Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. A USGS river gage reported the river at the Paw Paw had reached 29.89 feet on Wednesday afternoon. Minor flood stage there is 25 feet. The Potomac at Paw Paw had been measured at 6.78 feet on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. The river rose more than 23 feet in just 24 hours. It was unclear whether the river has crested yet.
Other smaller tributaries around the county backed up onto roads and into yards as the Potomac was unable to drain waters away.
On Wednesday around lunchtime, emergency personnel from the region began a swift water rescue at the Sleepy Creek Campground in eastern Morgan County on the banks of the Potomac, evacuating an occupant from a camper, along with pets.
photo shared by Robert Frey
Several low water bridges on the Cacapon River and Sleepy Creek were underwater on Wednesday, re-routing access for residents and emergency personnel. Low-lying areas also saw flooded roadways on Tuesday evening as heavy rain continued to fall on the county.
To the west, storms dropped damaging amounts of precipitation, causing catastrophic flooding in Westernport, Lavale and Cumberland, Md. on Tuesday night.
