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Farmington Flooding January 18-19, 2006
It's January, 2006. The Sandy River, full of ice, has backed up over the Intervale section of Farmington. Prompt action by the Fire Department has most low-lying areas cleared of parked cars, and the area is barricaded off.
One truck driver, however, decides to ignore the barriers and enter the area. Farmington fire fighters have to put themselves at risk, don cold water rescue gear, and use heavy equipment to reach the driver and bring him to safety.
"Do not drive through flooded roadways" is our Number One message during even minor flood events. This driver put himself and the rescuers at risk.
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| Photos courtesy of Franklin County Emergency Management Agency and the Maine Department of Public Safety. |
The Intervale area of Farmington is flooded and closed. (FN EMA photo). |
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| Because one truck driver decides to ignore the barricades, fire fighters prepare for a rescue, before the sun has come up. (FN EMA photo). |
This bulldozer is needed to reach the scene. (FN EMA photo). |
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| In the daylight, we see how completely the truck is caught in the flood water. (DPS photo). |
A wider shot shows how completely the road is inundated, and how much of an unnecessary risk the truck driver was taking. He would have no way of knowing if there was even a road beneath the flood water. (FN EMA photo). |
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