Six people and two dogs were rescued from a Newton County RV park Wednesday, hours after strong storms caused severe damage and widespread flooding across metro Atlanta.
Amid the heavy rainfall Tuesday, sheriff’s deputies went to the Riverside Estates Mobile Home & RV Park near Covington to tell residents and campers to evacuate. The park, which sits just south of I-20 alongside the Yellow River, started to flood that evening, according to county spokesperson Bryan Fazio.
But around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, officials received calls about five residents who were stuck in their RVs due to the high water levels. A Newton County Emergency Management Agency dive team, which included members of the Newton County Fire Services, Covington Fire Department and other agencies, took an inflatable raft out into several feet of water. They went from submerged camper to camper and brought the five people to safety, Fazio told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Nearly six hours later, Fazio said officials got word that another man, a nearby “private resident,” was still inside either a camper or RV. He and his two dogs were rescued after crews traversed though 3 to 4 feet of brown water, Fazio said.
“All the rescues were successful thanks to the quick response and incredible partnership of EMA, Newton County Fire Services, Covington Fire Department and the Newton County Sheriff’s Office,” Newton interim EMA Director Wendy Patterson said. “Everyone was brought to safety without incident or injuries.”
While no one was hurt, about a dozen RVs and vehicles remained partially underwater at the park Wednesday, photos showed. The Yellow River began receding that afternoon.
The American Red Cross spoke with some residents at the park and officials are working to reach others in need of housing assistance. Up to seven families were displaced, though that number was still preliminary, spokesperson Evan Peterson said.
Officials said the park is prone to flooding due to its proximity to the river. “We’ve had to visit before for serious storms, heavy rain, things like that,” Peterson told the AJC.
He noted that relief efforts were being conducted knowing that severe storms could again impact metro Atlanta on Friday.
Areas south of I-20 will be under a Level 3 of 5 risk for severe weather, while areas north of the interstate will be under a Level 2 risk, Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said. Friday’s storms are expected to reach the area around the mid- to late afternoon.
“We’re doing everything with the back of our mind knowing that water in these areas is going to crest in the next day or so,” Peterson said, “and we’re about to get some more water as well.”
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