Severe flooding devastated some Western Maryland communities in Allegany and Garrett counties, where children had to be rescued from their schools this week.

The evacuation was conducted by local emergency crews. At 4:40 p.m. on Tuesday, the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services reported that all students and staff members in the school had been safely evacuated to a church in town.

Family members waded through waste-deep water to reach their children in Western Maryland on Tuesday after torrential rain quickly inundated three schools in Allegany County, prompting emergency rescues.