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A 13-year-old boy died after being swept into a storm drain during heavy rainfall in Mount Airy, Maryland, on Thursday (July 31). The incident occurred as the boy played with friends near an apartment complex during a torrential downpour that caused widespread flooding across the Northeast.
The Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company spokesperson, Doug Alexander, explained that the children were playing with a ball in a grassy area when the rain intensified. The water quickly rose, turning the area into a fast-moving river, and swept the boy into the drain pipe. Despite efforts by about 50 firefighters and police officers, who worked for over an hour to rescue him, the boy could not be saved.
Parts of the Baltimore area received between 2.5 to 4 inches of rain, with Mount Airy experiencing up to 5 inches. The heavy rain led to flash flooding in several areas, including New York and New Jersey, where states of emergency were declared.
The storm caused significant disruptions across the East Coast, including flooded transportation systems in New York and power outages affecting thousands of homes and businesses. Emergency services were also involved in multiple rescues, including saving an 8-year-old child from a submerged car in Montgomery County, Maryland.
The National Weather Service warned of potential further flooding in the northern mid-Atlantic and southern New England regions through Friday night.