ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - Less than five months into 2015, Roanoke's swift water rescue team is staying busy.
According to Roanoke Fire-EMS, which runs the swift water rescues, the team has been called out to six incidents since January. That's the same amount as all of 2014.
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"To forecast what our summer is going to look like, I couldn't tell you," said Roanoke Fire-EMS Chief David Hoback. "I really would not have imagined we would have so many activations this early into the season."
Despite the rise, the number of rescues is not expected to approach 2013 when widespread flooding led to 31 calls.
Several of the calls have come within the last month.
In April, the swift water rescue team assisted the Roanoke County Fire Department with a rescue along the Blue Ridge Parkway. A woman and her dog needed to be rescued after falling 15 feet.
Less than two weeks ago, swift water rescue teams in Roanoke and Salem helped pull 13 people to safety from the Roanoke River after heavy rain.
"The response from this group and how well trained the rescue people are is amazing," victim Carol Burke said after the rescue.
With calls increasing, the swift water rescue team is expected to get some better equipment. An $84,000 state grant will help replace two boats this fall. The team is funded entirely through grants.
Here are some tips from Roanoke Fire-EMS on how to stay safe in a swift water rescue situation:
- Turn Around Don't Drown! Never drive through flooded roadways! A vehicle can get swept away in less than one foot of water.
- Never walk through flooded roadways. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. Also, the water is filled with debris, hazardous materials and manhole covers can pop up making for a dangerous situation.
- When boating/kayaking always wear a personal floatation device.
- If you do end up in the river, point your feet downstream. This helps your legs to come in contact with floating debris or rocks first instead of your head.
- Stay calm and try to make your way to the shore while floating.
- Be wary of branches in the river. It may be tempting to reach for a branch, but you can become entangled and drown.
- Look for a clear place to get to shore.