Torrential rains caused an early morning distress call into Calhoun Control from a family on Pine Creek Road surrounded by rising flood waters and needing rescued at 4:18 a.m.
Chief David Johnson took his personal vehicle toward scene, as he was closer to location from home. An Additional truck came from Station. It was evident from the beginning of Pine Creek Road that water had violently came through with ditch lines excavated by swift water throwing leaves, logs and anything else from the ditch into the roadway. Johnson made it as far as Right Pine Road, but water was at least 3 feet into the roadway and impassable.
Calhoun Control returned a call back to the family to inform them of the situation, and was informed by the caller that the water was receding and they were no longer in danger.
Within a few hour time period, the creek on Pine Creek Road had gone from a quaint bubbling stream, to a raging river and then lowered by several feet, but still at flood stage. As a Ridge Dweller, you don’t realize how quickly things change in low areas of the county that have streams nearby and how treacherous living there can be.
Before knowing that the family was safe, Chief Johnson and two other crew members continued to try and inch their way through the flooded roads. But the location of the road was not possible, the water had risen so high you could not see any evidence that there was even a road under the water. So caution was taken to stay back until it receded further on their end.
Once the fire department was informed of the family’s safety they returned to station.
At least one home was damaged by the flood water’s entry into their home
