Extended rain across the region caused significant flooding in Western Maryland on Tuesday, May 13, devastating Westernport and severely impacting LaVale, Cumberland and nearby towns that were deluged by relentless rain.
Hancock felt a milder version of that storm but saw the floodwaters wash down the Potomac River on Wednesday and Thursday.
Tonoloway Creek and other smaller tributaries in town flooded roadways and parks locally as they were unable to empty rainfall into the swollen Potomac throughout the day.
Widmeyer Park in Hancock and Harding Park in Pecktonville saw the impacts of high water on Wednesday, having to close access to their facilities.
Hancock’s boat ramp area on the C&O Canal was gated off to keep vehicles out of the parking lot, which flooded across and into the picnic area on the banks of the Potomac.
At midnight on Tuesday, May 13, the Potomac River level was logged at 8.76 feet.
Roughly 14 hours later, the river had reached 25 feet and was still rising, according to the Potomac River gage reading from the USGS. That reading pushed the river at Hancock into “Minor flood stage” on Wednesday afternoon.
The river crested at 26.3 feet on Thursday, May 15 at noon. By Friday, the Potomac had dropped to 15 feet.
Washington County Emergency officials reported a surge of water-related response incidents over the course of the two-day incident, stretching from Allegany County, Md. to Morgan County, W.Va.
On Tuesday, county units responded to Allegany County as flash flooding called for multiple rescues. Responders from Clear Spring, Hancock, Funkstown, Williamsport and the Division of Emergency Services deployed to the Westernport area with multiple units and resources, including the county’s Mobile Command Center.
On Wednesday as flood levels were reached on the Potomac in our area, crews from Washington County responded to Sleepy Creek Campground on the Morgan County side of the river to assist in the search and rescue effort to clear the campground of occupants who were in rising floodwaters. Units responded to the four-hour incident from Hancock, Funkstown, Sharpsburg, Williamsport, Clear Spring and the Division of Emergency Services.
“Hazardous conditions, including underwater debris and fast-moving currents, made access difficult, but all individuals and animals were safely brought to shore,” said Washington County emergency officials.
Further rescue responses were needed along the C&O Canal Towpath in Williamsport, near the Big Woods Campground on the C&O Canal and in Southern Tonoloway Creek near the Bowles House on the C&O Canal on Wednesday, May 14.Washington County.
“The Washington County Division of Emergency Services commends the rapid response, coordination, and bravery demonstrated by our local firefighters, DES personnel, and regional partners. Despite treacherous conditions, our teams acted swiftly to protect lives and respond to unfolding emergencies,” said county officials.
