Pinellas County, FL – After fielding 182 water rescue calls during Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has launched a new High Water Rescue Team trained to respond to future flooding events.
According to the sheriff’s office, the specialized team includes more than 100 deputies trained to operate a range of vessels and vehicles for high-water emergencies. The goal is to improve rescue efficiency in hard-to-reach areas during severe weather and urban flooding.
The agency said training scenarios included simulated rescues in mangrove environments to prepare for real-world flood conditions. The new initiative also includes nine pre-planned staging points across the county, new high-water vehicles, and marine vessels equipped for emergency deployment.
Deputies are additionally outfitted with voltage detectors to identify electrified water fields, enhancing responder safety during storms.
The department emphasized that the year-round training schedule will keep the team ready for rapid activation when the next storm strikes.
“We hope it never happens again, but we’re preparing like it will,” the sheriff’s office said in its public statement.
Residents can learn more about the High Water Rescue Team’s operations and training efforts at PinellasSheriff.org/InsideTheStar.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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