December 22nd, 2025 by WCBC Radio

Sometimes, the most important person in the room is the one no one knows about. He’s quiet, unassuming, directed and ready to get the job done. Thankfully, that person was around on May 13th of this year, when torrential rains hit in Westernport and Lonaconing, washing out roads, sewer and gas lines. The rushing waters rose too fast, cutting off escape routes, trapping 200 students and teachers in Westernport Elementary School. Allegany County Emergency Services had all hands on deck for operations, but Roger Bennett, the County Emergency Services Director, said one person stood out and that person is WCBC’s 2025 Person of the Year…

  

“Eddie Collins is the Fire Chief of Bedford Road but he’s also the team leader with Allegany County Water Rescue Team. He was instrumental in basically leading and liasioning with the Board of Ed down at the Westernport flood in getting those kids out of the school. We evacuated over 150 people out of that school within a very short amount of time and he was the most instrumental person in making the school administration feel comfortable that it was time to go and get them to safety. I think without Eddie, things would probably not went as smooth as they did.”

Chief Eddie Collins – playing an instrumental part in the emergency evacuation of Westernport students and teachers in a safe, organized, and quick manner to save lives in the midst of active flooding.