Officials advise to stay away from rivers until water recedes

GLASGOW, Ky. – With large amounts of rain comes swollen rivers and officials are asking the public to refrain from entering the water until the rivers recede.

According to officials, water levels can rise quickly with runoff from upstream, even another county or two over, and the rivers can become dangerous.

Kevin Poynter, the training officer for the Barren County Rescue Dive Team, said a tree limb can sweep you off your feet or trap you under the water before you are able to do anything to save yourself.

Poynter also said kayaking, canoeing and swimming is not a wise decision and encourages the public not to risk their and rescuers lives by getting into the swollen waters.

One time, Poynter was assisting in a dive response and jumped off the boat and into what looked to be calm water on top.

He said when he hit the water and went under, the current swept him away and nearly trapped him under water.

“The current, it was really pushing me and I got swept in, which I was looking for a vehicle, and I get swept into the vehicle and I mean, it was, there for a while, it was, I had to really fight to stay off the vehicle because the water pressure was keeping me held against the vehicle that was underwater,” said Poynter.

Poynter is trained in water rescues and was able to get out of the dangerous situation, but, according to officials, flooding kills more people annually than any other natural disaster.