Fire crews prepare boats for swift-water rescues as floodwaters rise

ATLANTA — A specialized team of rescuers is on high alert as rivers continue to rise across north Georgia.

Channel 2's Rikki Klaus met with the Coweta County fire swift-water rescue team in Newnan who prepared their boats Saturday for potential rescues.The Chattahoochee River is 3 miles away and is at flood stage. The river is usually around five feet, but by Saturday night, it had swollen to 20feet and is moving ten times faster than normal.

"It would be a dangerous situation for a rescuer or a victim that's trapped out there," Matthew Daily with Coweta County Fire and Rescue said. "It may look innocent, but it's not. The water's very dangerous."

Klaus got a tour of the specialized rescue boat, which even has a crane to grab people from the water.

District Chief Craig Sherrer said he's only seen the water so high on the Chattahoochee on the Coweta/Carroll County line one other time in his 17-year career.

Firefighters say they have seen large trees, refrigerators and propane tanks rushing down the river.

Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Katie Walls says more rain is moving in Saturday night and will stick around for New Year's Eve celebrations early next week.

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It's possible we could seen an additional inch of rain over the next couple days.

Temperatures reached the low 60s Saturday but could reach up to 70 degrees later next week.

Cox Media Group