In the wake of disastrous flooding caused by Tropical Storm Debby, the Bath Volunteer Fire Department’s Swift Water Rescue Team successfully saved four people in Steuben County on Friday. The team was deployed to the southern part of the county, where emergency crews were stretched thin due to the widespread impact of the storm.
The first rescue occurred in the town of Jasper, where a person trapped in their home near State Route 36 was safely evacuated. The second rescue involved three individuals stranded on top of their submerged pickup truck near County Route 119 in Canisteo. They managed to reach the bank before being rescued by the Bath team.
The department emphasized the dangers of navigating floodwaters, urging the public to avoid attempting rescues or driving through flooded areas. Their message: “Turn around, Don’t drown.”
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