CUMBERLAND — Allegany County has worked over the past year to repair infrastructure damaged by the May 13, 2025, flood that devastated areas of Western Maryland, and more projects are needed.
Gov. Wes Moore surveyed the damage and two days after the flood declared a State of Emergency for Western Maryland.
According to his office at that time, several communities in Western Maryland experienced nearly 6 inches of rain, which caused major floods in Allegany and Garrett counties, as well as the second highest Georges Creek crest on record.
“Our thoughts are with the Marylanders who have been directly impacted by this storm, and our gratitude is with all of the first responders, crisis managers and public servants who raised their hands to support our people in a moment of need,” Moore said at that time.
Damaged structures included gas lines, roads and pipes.
This week, Allegany County Director of Public Works Adam Patterson said work continues to restore various structures and facilities across the area.
“We have a couple bridge projects in the Georges Creek region and one bridge project in Cresaptown,” he said.
The Georges Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant still has “higher than normal flow,” Patterson said, “which means we have a problem with a line and/or manhole somewhere in the system.”
Additionally, several stream bank stabilization projects are scattered throughout the county, he said.
On the day the flood hit, so much water entered Westernport Elementary School that first responders used rescue boats to evacuate roughly 150 children and 50 adults from the building to a former church nearby.
Those students finished their 2025-26 school year at Frostburg State University.
Students and staff reentered Westernport Elementary School’s second and third floors at the start of the 2026-27 school year.
The school’s first floor was reopened for student use April 7.
Today, “the only project remaining at the school is the kitchen installation, which is in progress,” said Allegany County Public Schools Public Information Officer Kris Kehrwald.
Meals have been brought in from Westmar Middle School as Westernport’s kitchen nears completion.
“Students dine in the gymnasium/school theater,” she said.
Westernport Elementary School earlier this month celebrated its grand reopening.
“We are grateful to everyone who supported our decision to reopen Westernport Elementary and invest in its renovation,” Kehrwald said. “A year later, we’re looking ahead to what this school and community can achieve together.”