Residents of parts of suburban Laurel are evacuating from their homes and businesses this afternoon due to the threat of severe flooding along the Patuxent River.

Flooding is expected to occur Thursday near the T. Howard Duckett Dam along Interstate 95. The city's emergency operations center has recommended that everyone evacuate from businesses and homes from Main Street north to the river.

The commission is estimating that it will continue to do release water from Rocky Gorge Reservoir until about 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Irvine said.

See more of this story, photos, a map of the evacuation area and follow our continuing coverage at washingtonexaminer.com.