Watch as people rescued from rapidly rising water as atmospheric river brings flooding rain to California
The California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) air division shared dramatic video and photos on Facebook of first responders performing two separate rescues of people who had become trapped by rapidly rising water in two separate locations on Monday.
California Highway Patrol successfully rescues people trapped by rising floodwaters Paso Robles
California Highway Patrol Flight Officer Paramedic John Ontiveros joined FOX Weather on Wednesday to describe the daring rescue of people who became trapped by rapidly rising floodwaters as an atmospheric river storm pounded California this week.
PASO ROBLES, Calif. – Every second counts when a call comes in from someone trapped by rising water requesting help, and rescuers were in a race against time this week as a powerful atmospheric river storm slammed California with heavy rain that led to numerous reports of flooding, putting people in a perilous and potentially dangerous situation.
The California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) air division shared dramatic video and photos on Facebook of first responders performing two separate rescues of people who had become trapped by rapidly rising water in two separate locations on Monday.
And what a day it turned out to be.
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Watch: Video shows dramatic rescue of drivers trapped by rising floodwaters in California
The California Highway Patrol’s Coastal Division Air Operations shared dramatic video showing the rescue of drivers who became trapped by rapidly rising floodwaters in California as a multiday atmospheric river storm slammed the state with heavy rain and damaging wind gusts on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024.
According to CHP, air units had already been monitoring the area when they became aware of a car that had been trapped in floodwaters in San Luis Obispo County early Monday morning.
They headed to the scene, but the victims had already been rescued.
"We were en route to that first rescue where the two victims were trapped in their vehicle in the riverbed when they tried to cross a creek crossing," California Highway Patrol Flight Officer Paramedic John Ontiveros said.
That’s when they decided to patrol other areas from the air.
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A photo showing a helicopter getting ready to rescue people from floodwaters in California on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024.
(CHP - Coastal Division Air Operations/Facebook)
"We chose to patrol the Salinas riverbed, knowing that there, there’s quite a bit of people down in that riverbed, and with the large amount of rain we got the night before, we were concerned that there might be some people that needed rescue," he said.
It wasn’t long before they found people that needed help.
"Lo and behold, we found two of them right away and set up a game plan to remove them from the islands that they were standing on that was surrounded by water," Ontiveros continued.
Ontiveros said the Paso Robles City Fire Department was in the area conducting a swift-water rescue with their boat.
"So, we initially started with them and tried to get them to rescue these victims by boat," he said. "They were able to get one, and they chose to use the helicopter for the other two."
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A photo showing rescuers hoist a flood victim to safety on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024.
(CHP - Coastal Division Air Operations/Facebook)
Ontiveros said there could have been a different outcome had they not been patrolling the area in the helicopter.
"When we located them, we made some broadcasts over our aircraft (public address) system, and we were asking them basically if they needed to be rescued," he said.
Ontiveros said they were waving their hands in the air, indicating that they needed help.
"That’s when we went into rescue mode and the game plan to rescue them," he said. "I’m not sure if they had cellphones and if they could have called 911. But, if we wouldn’t have located them, they probably, you know, might not have been seen or heard. So, it was a good thing we chose to fly the river that day."
And with the amount of rain that has fallen, the rivers rise fast.
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A photo showing a flood victim being lowered to safety on dry ground on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024.
(CHP - Coastal Division Air Operations/Facebook)
"All the mountains and the creeks drain into the Salinas River, so, it really rises fast," Ontiveros said. "And, in years past, we’ve had up to seven (rescues) at one time. But this year, we’ve had three so far."
"Hopefully, he continued, "we won’t have to do any more of these, but we’re ready in case we do."
None of the people rescued from the flooding received any major injuries.
"Everybody appeared to be OK," Ontiveros said. "Our concern was just to getting from the bad spot that they were in and onto dry land."
Ontiveros said it was imperative that they be moved to safe, dry ground as soon as possible.
"If they would have stayed there, you know, another night, they might have started experiencing hypothermia," he said.
A photo showing a helicopter used to help rescue people trapped by floodwaters in California on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024.
(CHP - Coastal Division Air Operations/Facebook)
Ontiveros said there was a helicopter rescue technician from the Paso Robles Fire Department that was able to be lowered to help the victims.
"You know, these guys don't really know why we're there," Ontiveros said. "They just see us overhead and they're not, you know, not sure if we're there to rescue them or what."
But the rescuer was lowered and made contact with the victims, who told them they needed to get out.
"He went down and made contact and really encouraged and like, ‘Hey. We got to go. The waters rising.’"
Ontiveros said the rescuer did a good job convincing them they needed to leave.
"They all did. They were all compliant," he said.