Couple rescued from flood waters in rural Vernon County

Following a search and rescue effort involving several local responding agencies, two people were safely pulled from high water after they got trapped in the high waters caused by the week-long rains Vernon County has experienced. The Vernon County Swift Water Team was activated after the Vernon County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from the couple.

The persons in danger had driven into a hole and were unsure where they were. The couple only knew they were somewhere off H Highway, and they could remember having seen Moles Road. The Vernon County Ambulance District responded with an ambulance and the Zodiak rescue boat. The Deerfield and Richards fire departments helped search the area where the couple were believed to be.

Vernon County Ambulance District office manager Tina Werner said that because the couple could not give a very precise location it took responders quite awhile to locate them; but they finally discovered them in a rural area along Katy Track Road in the area known as the Bell-Bacon bottoms.

The dispatcher kept the victim on the phone while rescuers searched.

"The sheriff's dispatcher did an excellent job keeping in contact with the couple," Werner said. "At one point the caller told the dispatcher they could hear the sirens of the responders which helped narrow down the search."

By the time rescuers arrived the vehicle was almost submerged and the couple were on top of it.

The two were from out of the area and had gone through a road closed sign; and in their efforts to turn around and head back they became stuck and water filled their car. Fortunately it turned out that no one was injured and needing medical transport.

In a press release VCAD director James McKenzie had some advice for those out and about on county roads.

"Do not drive around the road closed signs in the county, pay attention to what roads you are on so in the event of an emergency you will be able to aid responders in locating you sooner and take the advice 'Don't drown -- turn around,' seriously," McKenzie said.