111 Chattahoochee River visitors helped to safety during Saturday’s storms

DULUTH, Ga. — Local fire departments helped dozens of people on the Chattahoochee River get to safety during the height of Saturday’s storms.

Gwinnett County and Johns Creek firefighters received calls just before 5 p.m. about a tubing group stranded under Abbots Bridge in Duluth.

“There was a large group of people that had already exited the water and were taking shelter under the bridge from the storm. Crews were under the bridge at the height of the storm and were getting people out of the water and onto the riverbank,” Gwinnett spokesman Lt. Justin Wilson said.

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The lightning and windy conditions made it impossible for the group to stay under the bridge.

“Firefighters were able to redirect the group to go to a staging hut belonging to the river tubing company. The hut was accessible by foot and was located a short distance away from the takeout point at Abbotts Bridge,” Wilson said.

Over the course of two hours, the departments assisted 111 people in total. The crews used rescue boats to bring 35 people safely to shore.

Wilson said a local fisherman also assisted with the department’s efforts.

Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Eboni Deon says storms are possible again Sunday.

Rivergoers are encouraged to stay weather aware and to avoid being on the river during a thunderstorm.

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