An accompanying paddler was rescued shortly after the
Shortly before
Emergency workers expressed frustration over a death they said could have been prevented. On the last day of the wettest April the region has seen in more than six decades, the
The
Mr. Gracey said the paddlers shouldn’t have been navigating the river this weekend.
“”The
Water levels on the flooded boat launch spiked after boards atop village dams collapsed. A nearby alarm meant to signal a dam failure didn’t go off because the collapse was controlled. The dam was designed so that boards collapse top to bottom.
“”Probably within four minutes, it came up about a foot,”” he said near a fire hydrant that was nearly submerged. “”People were standing and taking pictures, and they turned around, their feet were wet.””
Water levels quickly subsided, but not before most drivers parked on the launch’s nearly full parking lot fled.
The drama in
Paddlers should avoid the river in the next few days, Mr. Gracey said.
“”It’s an ever-changing river,”” he said. “”It’s a stronger river than most.””