Three fire departments rescued a driver who was stranded on top of a vehicle that had become completely submerged in floodwater near Old Palmyra Road and Dutch Creek Road in southern Indiana early Tuesday. No injuries were reported.
The Palmyra Fire Department said it was dispatched at 6:36 a.m. through mutual aid with the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department to the area of Old Palmyra Road and Dutch Creek Road for a reported water rescue, according to a post from the department.
Crews arriving on scene found the vehicle entirely underwater in the flooding, with one person stranded on top of it, the department said. Firefighters from the Jackson Township, Palmyra and Highlander Fire Protection District agencies worked together to pull the driver out of the floodwater and bring the person to safety..
With heavy rainfall forecast across the region for the rest of the week, fire officials used the incident to urge drivers never to travel through flooded roadways. They added that water levels can rise quickly and that hazards beneath the water’s surface are often impossible to see, adding the public safety message “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.”
What the Fire Department Said
The emergency call came in at 6:36 a.m. as a reported water rescue in the area of Old Palmyra Road and Dutch Creek Road. The fire department responded alongside the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department to make the rescue run.
When crews arrived, they found a vehicle completely underwater with a driver standing on top of it. Firefighters from Jackson Township, Palmyra, and the Highlander Fire Protection District worked in tandem to get to the person and swiftly get them to safety (and dry land).
Never Assume the Water is Safe
Fire officials tied the rescue to a major warning, noting additional storms are about to move into the area. The department advised all to avoid driving onto or through flooded roads under any circumstances. It’s never safe to assume you can safely pass through waters without knowing what’s happening beneath them. Perhaps common sense for some, but a concept everyone should memorize.
The “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” message, if you haven’t heard it before, is a national public-safety campaign. It’s used by emergency agencies to discourage drivers from entering flooded roadways during and after heavy rain. It’s impossible to know what lies beneath the waters, and it could end up becoming an even bigger disaster should you wade or drive into them.