HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla – Hernando County Fire Rescue Special Operations rescued a mother and her son from storm surge during Hurricane Idalia.
According to officials, just after 6:15am Wednesday morning the Hernando County 911 Communications Center received a call regarding a woman and 12-year-old that were stranded on Pine Island Drive in their vehicle attempting to escape rapidly rising storm surge inundation resulting from Hurricane Idalia.
Hernando County Sheriffs Office attempted to make access with a high-water vehicle but were unsuccessful due to water depth limitations of the vehicle.
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A National Guard high water vehicle, already staged within the county, also responded but was unable to gain access due to the water depth.
At 7:35am, HCFR dispatched our special operations team with an airboat and water rescue crew to respond.
Officials say at 8:09am, Hernando County Fire Rescue launched our airboat in 40-45 MPH winds attempting to rescue the mother and her son.
Within 11 minutes Airboat 6 made contact with the victims who were parked on the highest point of the roadway and still inside the vehicle.
The airboat crew successfully rescued the family from their vehicle and safely returned them both to dry land at 8:34am.
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The mother and her son were evaluated by HCFR Paramedics, they were uninjured during the incident and were reunited with family.
There were no injuries to emergency responders. At the time of the rescue, the crew from the airboat reported waters to be 4 feet over the roadway along Pine Island Drive.
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