COLUMBUS — First responders in Bartholomew County successfully executed a multi-agency water rescue early Thursday morning, bringing three people and four pets to safety as water levels rose along Clifty Creek.
Emergency units from the City of Columbus and Bartholomew County—including local fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and emergency medical services (EMS)—were dispatched at approximately 6:47 a.m. Crews arrived near the intersection of U.S. 31 and County Road 50 North following reports of three unhoused individuals trapped by swelling waters.
Rescuers deployed personnel and specialized equipment to reach the stranded individuals and their animals, who were trapped along the creek bed. All three people and four pets were safely brought to dry land without any reported injuries.
A Recurring Challenge Along Clifty Creek
Water rescues along Clifty Creek have become a familiar challenge for local first responders, particularly during heavy rainfall and sudden localized flooding. Encampments near low-lying waterways often put unhoused residents at high risk when water levels swell rapidly overnight.
Earlier this year, the Bartholomew County Swift Water Rescue Team and Columbus firefighters conducted similar boat operations along Clifty Creek to evacuate individuals and domestic animals trapped by rising waters. During those severe weather events, emergency crews utilized thermal-imaging drones to scan flood zones and ensure no additional residents were left behind in the dark.
Local public safety officials continue to remind residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution near waterways during periods of high water and to move to higher ground immediately when rain causes creeks and rivers to rise.
