Bootheel family saved from rising flood waters

HAYTI, Mo. -- Floodwaters endangered the lives of a Pemiscot County family after their vehicle washed away in the current near Hayti.

Pemiscot County Sheriff Tommy Greenwell said the department's 911 center received a call at 2:08 p.m. Monday a family was on the roof of their vehicle on Black Island off County Road 338 northeast of Hayti. The caller said they tried to cross water covering the road from Mississippi River floodwater, and it swept the vehicle away.

Pemiscot County deputies, Missouri Department of Conservation agents, Pemiscot County Rescue Squad and Caruthersville Police Department officers arrived at the scene where they saw two adults and two children, ages 4 and 5, on the roof of a vehicle, the sheriff said.

A boat was launched and rescuers reached the victims and transported them to safety at 2:40 p.m. The purpose of the family's trip was to go fishing in the back waters, Greenwell said. There appeared to be no injuries, he reported.

The sheriff reminded all residents if there is water across any roadways, turn around and do not attempt to cross it. The water in most cases is deeper than it appears, he said.

"We were lucky this time, and everyone escaped," Greenwell said. "It could have been a terrible loss of lives if rescuers hadn't reached them as quickly as they did."