SARASOTA, Fla. – In the midst of Hurricane Helene’s fury, the Sarasota Police Department’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) pulled off a daring rescue, saving an elderly couple trapped in their flood-stricken home.
Early Friday morning, as the storm raged, a frantic granddaughter contacted 911. Her 86-year-old grandfather, who relies on an oxygen tank, and her 85-year-old grandmother, who has limited mobility, were stranded on the second floor of their home on Anglin Drive.
Read: Biden Deploys 1,000 Troops To North Carolina For Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts
Rising floodwaters and storm damage made their situation increasingly perilous, with the grandfather’s oxygen supply dwindling rapidly.
Undeterred by treacherous conditions and impassable roads, Officers Urbain, Gonzalez, Cook, and Sullivan, comprising the ERT, deployed in a high-water rescue vehicle. Reaching the home at 3:42 a.m., they found the couple in dire straits.
Working quickly, the officers carefully assisted the elderly woman down the stairs using a dining room chair. Both residents were then safely transported through the floodwaters in a police vehicle to waiting paramedics. They were taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital for evaluation and have since been reunited with their relieved family.
This dramatic rescue underscores the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their own safety to protect others during natural disasters.
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