One woman drowned and over hundred others were rescued after severe thunderstorms and flooding ravaged parts of Maryland, an official said on Sunday.
According to officials, the woman's body was found near Ellicott City, which was swamped by flash floods on Saturday, CNN reported.
The official said it was unclear whether the woman was in a car at the time. "People formed human chains to help out others," the official said.
According to ABC news, Maryland and New Jersey were among the worst-affected by floods, but Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia were also affected by heavy storms.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has declared a State of Emergency in Howard County.
"The thunderstorms caused extensive damage to property and infrastructure in the central part of the state, including intense flooding in the historic town of Ellicott City," CNN quoted Hogan as saying.
The county also opened a community centre as a shelter for people who were displaced, NBC reported.
Over six inches of rain fell on Saturday night in Ellicott City within a span of three hours or less. More scattered rain and thunderstorms were forecast for the area, according to the National Weather Service.
Courtney Weglein, a victim, told the media that the water got so high in Ellicott City on Saturday night that a man had to be carried to safety. "It was insane," she said.
"It was a flash flood. And I literally came here, I thought we are going to have dinner. Within five minutes, it was panic and my friend was pulling someone out of there, and I have never seen anything like it...all I can say is, I am just happy to be alive," she added.
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