Authorities make tragic announcement following 12-year-old boy's disappearance amid severe weather: 'This is a heartbreaking outcome'
A string of powerful storms brought sudden and dangerous flash flooding to the Eastern U.S. this week, sweeping through towns in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Among the hardest-hit areas was Albemarle County, Virginia, where a 12-year-old boy went missing after being caught in fast-moving floodwaters.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the identity officially, but said the body matches the description of the 12-year-old boy who was swept away while walking near a creek. His family has been notified, and identification is pending from the Medical Examiner's Office, according to People.
Rescue teams searched overnight and located a body early the next morning. That same day, around 200 people, including 150 children and 50 staff, were rescued by boat from Westernport Elementary School in Maryland as floodwaters breached their building.
"This is a heartbreaking outcome, and our hearts are with the Sims family and loved ones," said the Albemarle County Fire Rescue Chief Dan Eggleston in a statement.
Communities across western Maryland and southwestern Pennsylvania also reported a surge in emergency calls, with evacuations and road closures throughout the region. As reported by CBS News, some neighborhoods experienced several inches of rainfall in a matter of hours, overwhelming infrastructure and leaving behind serious damage.
While spring rainstorms are common, research shows that human-caused warming is increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme weather.
Also in the CBS report is the climate science group World Weather Attribution analysis from this week, where researchers found that record-breaking storms earlier this spring, which killed at least 24 people across the Midwest and South, were made significantly more dangerous by rising temperatures. According to the analysis, global heating made those downpours about 9% heavier than they would have been otherwise.
Heavier rainfall raises the risk of flash flooding, especially in areas with paved surfaces, aging drainage systems, or development near waterways. Increasing global temperatures are creating the conditions for more intense storms, acting like "steroids" for extreme weather.
Some towns are updating their flood defenses with green roofs and permeable pavement — like Chicago, which now captures over 85 million gallons of stormwater annually, per the NOAA Office for Coastal Management. Philadelphia has expanded the use of permeable paving through its Green Stormwater Infrastructure program, while Atlanta is restoring wetlands to reduce flooding in areas like Proctor Creek. Others, including Havre de Grace, Maryland, are using FEMA's Risk MAP program to limit building in high-risk zones.
Several organizations are helping communities adapt. Rebuild by Design is working with cities to redesign neighborhoods to better handle water. The National League of Cities has created toolkits to help local governments prepare for and respond to weather-related risks. Tools like flood modeling, early-warning systems, and battery-powered energy systems are also helping people protect their homes.
What would you do if natural disasters were threatening your home?
Move somewhere else
Reinforce my home
Nothing
This is happening already
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
Many households are preparing for future flooding by installing solar panels with battery backups. These systems can keep power on during outages and reduce monthly energy costs to near zero. EnergySage offers a free service to compare vetted solar installers and potentially save up to $10,000.
More broadly, efforts to curb the planet's overheating — by transitioning to cleaner energy, improving home efficiency, and supporting policies that limit harmful pollution — are key to reducing the risk of extreme weather in the years ahead.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Cruise Passenger Tumbles into Sea After Strong Winds Blew Ship Away from Dock While They Were Disembarking
A passenger aboard the Norwegian Epic fell into the water after strong winds caused the ship to pull away from the dock The passenger was disembarking the cruise ship in Catania, Sicily when the incident occurred on Friday, May 30 They sustained minor injuries as a result of the incidentA Norwegian Cruise Line passenger was knocked into the water after strong winds caused the docked ship to separate from the pier. The Norwegian Epic was parked in the port of Catania, Sicily when the wind blew the vessel away from the dock, leading the passenger to fall from the gangway during disembarkation, a spokesperson for the cruise line confirmed to PEOPLE in a statement. The gangway is the raised platform that is lowered from the side of a ship to allow passengers to cross to land. Crew members "immediately" assisted the guest out of the water and ensured they were 'evaluated by a medical team,' the statement added. The guest 'sustained minor injuries' and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment as a result. While the winds continued, the cruise line temporarily paused the disembarkation and embarkation process until 'the ship was able to safely dock again,' the spokesperson added. According to details shared on CruiseMapper, the ship departed from Rome on Saturday, May 24 and made stops in Greece, Malta and France in addition to Italy. After a 10-day sailing, it made its way back to Rome on Tuesday, June 3. The extreme weather that knocked the passenger from the ship came days before Sicily's active volcano, Mount Etna, erupted on Monday, June 2. Tourists were seen fleeing the area amid the volcanic eruption as plumes of smoke and ash billowed into the air. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Other footage showed pyroclastic flow — a combination of volcanic gas, lava blocks, ash and pumice that moves at an extremely high speed — rushing down the volcano. The eruption occurred on a national holiday in Italy, Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day), two years after Mount Etna last erupted in May 2023. The previous eruption caused flights to be halted at Catania's airport. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Man Says He 'Watched Helplessly' as Deadly Flood 'Washed Away' His Wife and Newborn Baby
Adamu Yusuf, 36, said he 'watched helplessly' as the catastrophic flood "washed away" his wife and newborn baby on May 29 Yusuf's wife and child had just returned home after spending time with family in another town The husband told BBC News he 'lost everything' in the flood, but that 'the most painful' losses were members of his familyA man says he 'watched helplessly' as the catastrophic flood that killed more than 200 people in Nigeria 'washed away' his wife and newborn baby. Adamu Yusuf, 36, said he lost nine family members when the flood hit Tiffin Maza in north-central Nigeria on Thursday, May 29, according to BBC News. Among those family members were his wife and newborn, who had returned to the town of Mokwa the day before the flood after spending time with family in another town. "She was the one that woke me up when the flood hit, and I quickly gathered the family and told everyone to hold one another,' Yusuf explained. 'As we stepped outside, we saw water everywhere in our living room and the compound. They panicked and we got disconnected." He later added, "I watched helplessly as water washed away my family. I survived because I could swim. It was God that saved me.' Yusuf said he 'lost everything' in the flood, but that 'the most painful' losses were members of his family. 'The only valuable I have now is this cloth I am wearing which was even given to me by my friend,' he added, per BBC News. The flooding occurred in the town of Mokwa, heavily impacting the districts of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa following torrential rains, according to BBC News. More than 200 people are believed to have died in the floods, and over 3,000 people have been displaced, the Associated Press reported. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. More than 500 households were impacted by the flooding, and two roads were washed away and two bridges collapsed, Ibrahim Audu Husseini, a spokesperson for the Niger State emergency service, previously told the AP. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said in a statement on X on Sunday, May 30, 'I extend my heartfelt condolences to the affected families and the good people of Niger State at this difficult time.' He later added, 'Relief materials and temporary shelter assistance are being deployed without delay. We will ensure that no Nigerian affected by this disaster is left behind or unheard of. I assure all those impacted that your government stands with you.' Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the Nigerian floods. Read the original article on People
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Washington Post
What to know about seeing the northern lights in the U.S. on Sunday
The northern lights made an appearance early Sunday in the western United States, but more sightings could be possible as night falls. On Sunday morning, people in New Mexico, Wyoming, Washington state and other parts of the west reported seeing the aurora borealis. Some even spotted glowing skies in the Mid-Atlantic before dawn.
