On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, torrential rains overflowed the banks of Georges Creek with fast-moving and rising waters sweeping through western Maryland and the West Virginia Potomac Highlands. The damage was most acutely felt in Westernport, a small town located in Allegany County, Western Maryland. Tremendous damage was sustained by area businesses and homes, as well as the public library and elementary school. Westernport is a nearby neighboring town about a ten-minute drive from Keyser, the home of WVU Potomac State College.
PSC faculty and staff quickly supported Westernport by establishing a drop-off site for personal protection equipment, cleaning and cooking supplies, food, and more at the Mary F. Shipper Library. More than ten truckloads of supplies were taken to two drop-off locations in Westernport — Bruce Outreach Center and Potomac Fire Company No. 2.
The Mary F. Shipper Library staff worked with the Allegany County Library System (ACLS) to recover and temporarily house the Westernport Library's local history book and manuscript collection. Their circulating collection was completely unsalvageable. Much of their local history collection was unscathed, and of these items that were damaged, they can be repaired. The ACLS has decided to leave some of this collection with the PSC Library.
The Mary F. Shipper Library staff also worked with PSC alumni and Westernport town clerk, Laura Freeman Legge, to temporarily house and provide some repairs to the town's utility map collection while the storage room they use to house their maps is undergoing repairs.
The lower floor of Westernport Elementary School was severely flooded, resulting in a loss of the children's library. PSC Athletic Trainer Carita Mills and Rural Entrepreneurship Librarian Emily Zumbrun partnered to host a book and school supply drive on campus. The drive will continue through Friday, August 15. So far at least three carloads of books and school supplies have been donated.
Interested in providing support to the ongoing efforts? Here are three options:
- Shop this Amazon Wishlist for the Westernport Elementary School.
- Donate on the Restore Westernport Library GoFundMe webpage.
- The Western Maryland Strong Fund has been created at Allegany, MD, Garrett, MD, and Mineral, WV, Counties Community Trust Foundation (CTF). The CTF provides a secure and reliable repository for contributions, ensuring support reaches individuals and families impacted by the flooding. Donate here.
Thank you for your support of this local community.