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.
What's happening?
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.
Why are storms like this becoming more destructive?
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.
What's being done to reduce future flooding risks?
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.
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Move somewhere else 🌎 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.
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