Crime & Safety
2 Rescued When Canoe Overturns On Chattahoochee River
The Johns Creek Fire Department is using the March 15 incident to warn residents not to underestimate the waters of the Hooch.
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JOHNS CREEK, GA -- The Johns Creek Fire Department's Swift Water Rescue Unit came to the aid of a man and woman when they found themselves stranded on the Chattahoochee River.
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The unit made its first rescue of the year on March 15 when a canoe belonging to the pair overturned, and the couple became trapped on the shoals near Jones Bridge Park.
The unit responded with its new, high-powered rescue boat. Complete with a 200hp jet drive motor, the boat powered its way upstream from the Jones Bridge Road ramp and rescued the couple.
Find out what's happening in Johns Creekfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“A lot of people tend to underestimate the Chattahoochee River,” said Fire Chief Jeff Hogan. “It doesn’t have a lot of churning rapids, but when the Army Corps of Engineers releases water from Buford Dam, the river picks up a lot of speed and can rise rapidly. Before heading out to the river, we recommend that you check with the Corps about when the water release will occur and when the rise is expected to hit the area of the river you will be visiting.”
During a release, the Chattahoochee can rise as much as 11 feet in minutes. The water can be as cold as 47 degrees, which is low enough to induce hypothermia and hamper efforts to swim to shore.
The Army Corps of Engineers releases water from Buford Dam during weekday afternoons unless there are unusual downstream water demands or especially heavy rains. In those situations, unscheduled water releases can occur in the morning and on weekends.
The Corps provides notice, but the announcements vary from a few minutes to a few hours before each release. Release information is available by calling 770-945-1466. River users may also view the daily schedule for release times (see the Buford column).
The fire department acquired a custom-made rescue boat last year. The boat provides sufficient power and versatility to reach and save people more quickly. It also has only a 4-inch draft, which allows it to move over most shoals, the gunnels (sides) of the boat are lower, which makes it easier to enter the boat from the water, and it has a hand-cranked hoist to lift a lightweight stretcher.
Hogan said the best safety strategy is to take some simple precautions before entering the water.
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Image via city of Johns Creek
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