With the disastrous flooding today in Steuben County from Tropical Storm Debby emergency crews from all
around the area were very busy. Bath was obviously no different. The Swift Water Rescue Team from the Bath
Volunteer Fire Department were deployed to the southern Steuben County area to help where it would be most
needed.
The team made two successful rescues today. One was in the town of Jasper near State Rt. 36 and County Rt. 21
for a single person was trapped in their house and was taken to safety. The second was in the Canisteo area on
County Rt. 119 near the County Route 14 intersection. Three people were on top of their submerged pickup
truck but managed to get to the bank along County Rt. 119 where the Bath Swift water Rescue Team were able
to pick them up and take them to safety as well.
The Bath Swift Water Rescue Team are all professionally trained by the State and other professional instructors
to read the water and to handle themselves both in a boat and without a boat, which is extremely dangerous.
Untrained persons should never attempt to navigate fast moving water in these conditions. Just a couple feet of
fast-moving water can move a vehicle. Remember to “Turn around, Don’t drown”!
