Gwinnett Swiftwater Rescue Team helps evacuate employees from flooded parking lot

Gwinnett County firefighters are on the scene of a flooded area in the 6875 block of Mimms Drive, NW near Button Gwinnett Drive in unincorporated Gwinnett County. According to Capt. Tommy Rutledge, spokesman for Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services, crews requested the Swiftwater Rescue Team to assist evacuate employees from the parking lot of two separate businesses that is down a hill and surrounded by water.

“Firefighters are assisting employees with exiting the parking lot via SRT Raft to higher ground from a rear building. The water in the parking lot is reportedly waist to chest deep in some areas,” Rutledge said in a press release. “They are also using a shallow area (ankle deep) in order to walk the majority of people out from a building in the front.  It appears that half of the approximately 27 people were able to walk out in the shallow area under firefighter escort and half were removed via SRT Raft to higher ground.”

Rutledge said there are no injuries reported, but several vehicles will remain stranded in the parking lot until the water recedes.

“People are encouraged to stay alert to weather conditions and be prepared to evacuate due to flooding,” he said.

Gwinnett County remains under a Flood Warning, River Flood Warning and Significant Weather Advisory (until 4 p.m.) and Walton County and surrounding counties are under a Flood Watch until Wednesday morning.