Navigating chaos: The art and urgency of managing swift-water rescue incidents

Navigating chaos: The art and urgency of managing swift-water rescue incidents

By Colin Deiner, chief director, Disaster Management and Fire Brigade Services, Western Cape Government

Swift-water rescue incidents are among the most dynamic and dangerous challenges faced by emergency responders. Whether triggered by sudden flash floods, swollen rivers or urban water surges, these events evolve rapidly, turning familiar environments into treacherous landscapes within minutes.

For the incident commander, success depends not only on technical proficiency and calm decision-making under pressure but also on a deep understanding of water behaviour, risk management and multi-agency coordination.

The importance of having an effective swift-water rescue system has become more critical now than ever before. It has for some time now become a skill required by more than just river guides and emergency services with fast flowing water in their jurisdictions. The higher incidence of urban flooding due to people building homes in flood prone areas requires almost every service to have a swift-water rescue capability of some description.

Swift-water rescue is required in a variety of highrisk water-related incidents where the speed, power and unpredictability of moving water pose significant dangers. The scenarios where the possibility of either a single person or multiple victims can be lost or trapped by rapidly flowing water include:

• Flash flooding: Sudden, intense rainstorms or dam failures can lead to rapidly rising water levels in rivers, creeks or urban areas, trapping people in vehicles, buildings or low-lying areas.

• River and stream incidents: People can become stranded on rocks, in trees or caught in strainers (obstructions that allow water to pass through but trap solid objects) while kayaking, rafting or tubing.

• Urban flooding: Heavy rain, storm surges or blocked drainage systems can flood city streets, underpasses and basements, creating dangerous fast-moving water in normally dry areas.

• Vehicle water rescues: Cars swept off roads or bridges by fast-moving water, often leading to occupants being trapped or carried downstream.

• Dam and weir accidents: Boaters, swimmers or anglers can be caught in the powerful currents and dangerous hydraulic effects at the base of low-head dams or weirs.

• Mudslides and debris flows: Floods can trigger mudslides or debris flows, mixing water, mud, rocks and trees into a fast-moving, destructive force.

• Coastal and tidal surge rescues: Strong tidal currents, storm surges or tsunami waves can create rapidly changing water conditions, requiring specialised rescue approaches.

• Post-storm flooding: Largescale storms often cause widespread flooding, trapping residents in homes or on rooftops and cutting off evacuation routes.

• Swift-water overflows from dam releases: Emergency dam releases or failures can create rapid downstream currents, endangering nearby residents and recreational users.

Setting up a swift-water rescue system

With already strained budgets it is always tough for emergency services to motivate for more funding, especially if they must introduce a new programme into the system. The fact that swift-water rescue is such a high-risk activity means that it can’t be an “add-on” for your current systems but that a clear planning and execution programme must be followed ensuring that the right people are identified to participate and that correct training and equipment is provided to keep them safe in the extremely hazardous situations they may face.

The foundation of any specialised rescue capability lies in a clear operational need. The first thing that will have to be done will be to determine the local threat profile. This will include evaluating the area's flood history, river systems, dam infrastructure and potential for flash floods, storms and urban flooding. It will also be important to determine the frequency and severity of incidents. Are there recurring water-related emergencies that require specialised response?

Certain geographic and seasonal factors such as mountainous terrain, high-rainfall seasons or rapid snowmelt zones can increase the need for swiftwater capability.

Services must identify any current gaps in their ability to respond to water-related emergencies. These gaps may include limited access to trained personnel, inadequate equipment or delayed response times due to geographic constraints. Response time is particularly critical in swiftwater environments, where survivability windows are extremely short. You must evaluate whether existing resources can reliably reach and rescue victims within these critical timeframes.

Another crucial consideration is mutual aid dependence. If you rely heavily on neighbouring services for water rescue, this can lead to dangerous delays, inconsistent protocols and coordination issues. Establishing an in-house capability can greatly enhance local responsiveness and autonomy in time-sensitive incidents.

The effectiveness of a swiftwater rescue team depends heavily on the right personnel. Team members must possess strong physical fitness, excellent swimming ability and a proven aptitude for working in high-stress, unpredictable environments. Selection should prioritise those who demonstrate sound judgment and the ability to function effectively under pressure.

Once selected, team members must have access to accredited training programmes such as NFPA 1006 or the Swift-Water Module underwritten by the various universities across the country. These courses provide the foundational and advanced skills necessary for safe and effective operations in moving water. Ongoing proficiency must be maintained through frequent drills, scenario-based training and re-certification to ensure that the team always remains operationally ready.

A swift-water rescue team must be equipped with purposebuilt tools suited to a wide range of scenarios. Essential equipment includes inflatable or rigid rescue boats, throw bags, personal protective equipment such as helmets, Type V personal flotation devices and drysuits, as well as rope systems and waterproof communication devices.

Vehicles capable of transporting this equipment must be sourced and outfitted appropriately, rescue trucks or trailers designed for rapid deployment. Equally important is the provision of adequate space and funding for the ongoing maintenance, inspection, and secure storage of all assets. Without reliable equipment, even the best-trained team cannot perform effectively.

Of course safety is paramount in swift-water rescue, not only for victims but especially for the rescuers themselves. Agencies must develop comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) covering every phase of the operation, from team activation to victim recovery and post-mission decontamination.

These SOPs should be supported by dynamic risk assessment protocols that can be adjusted in real-time as conditions change.

Rescuer safety measures, including the use of designated safe zones, strict PPE standards and redundant communication systems, must be embedded into every operation. SOPs should also be aligned with the protocols of other agencies, such as EMS, fire services, disaster management

centres and environmental authorities, to ensure seamless inter-agency coordination.

No rescue operation can be achieved by the technical rescue team on its own and therefore cannot exist in a vacuum. Swift-water teams must be trained and prepared to work in conjunction with fire departments, police services, EMS, volunteers and military units where necessary. Joint drills and table-top exercises can help build mutual understanding and interoperability.

Furthermore, the team must be trained in a common Incident Command System (ICS) to function effectively during largescale or multi-agency operations. Clear deployment protocols, both local and regional, must be defined to ensure consistent activation and support.

Responding to the swift-water rescue incident – key tactics

Due to the dynamic nature of a swift-water incident, it’s very important that a strict approach be taken for all rescuers to follow. Always put safety first. Don’t try to be a hero. The Reach, Throw, Row, Go, Helo (RTRGH) approach is followed by most swift-water rescue teams. It translates to the following.

• Reach: Use poles, paddles, or other long objects to reach the victim without entering the water.

• Throw: Deploy throw bags or ropes to provide a lifeline to the person in the water.

• Row: Use boats or other flotation devices to reach the victim if the water conditions allow.

• Go: Enter the water as a last resort, using trained personnel with appropriate PPE.

• Helo: Use helicopters for air rescues when ground approaches are too dangerous or inaccessible.

Various victim contact methods can be utilised and can range from operations where rescuers may physically reach the victim using a tether and bring them to shore to the more advanced, highrisk technique where a rescuer enters the water tethered to a rope to reach the victim directly. Advanced rescue teams could make use of tensioned diagonal lines (high lines) which involves setting up rope systems across the water to create a lifeline or guide for rescuers and victims.

Ultimately the nature of the incident and terrain will dictate the strategies to be decided upon. It is clear however that setting up and deploying your specialised rescue team will, almost always, must be done rapidly and this can only be achieved by thorough preparedness and continuous practice and improving skills and tactics.

Commanding the incident

Swift-water rescue operations demand a disciplined, structured approach from the outset. Incident commanders and emergency responders must follow a systematic approach which should include the following:

Initial size-up and scene assessment

At the onset of a swift-water incident, the establishment of Incident Command is critical. A designated incident command post (ICP) must be set up promptly, with clear appointments of functional roles including operations, safety and logistics officers. One of the first tactical priorities is to secure the scene perimeter to prevent additional casualties and ensure a controlled operational environment.

Hazard identification should follow immediately. Factors such as water speed and volume, submerged debris, hydraulic dangers like strainers and low-head dams, chemical or sewage contamination and potential structural failures eg, eroded banks or compromised bridges, must be carefully evaluated. Environmental conditions such as water and air temperature, approaching weather systems and terrain accessibility for rescuers and vehicles must also be assessed, as these can drastically influence the rescue approach.

In certain parts of the of country we have many informal settlements built on the banks of rivers who flow rapidly during their rainy seasons and, often due to the close proximity of informal dwellings to these rivers, leads to many people ending up in the water together with the structural elements used to build the shacks. Not only does this create a massive life risk to the victims but also to rescuers if they might have to go into or close to the water. If this happens at night it increases the risk exponentially.

Situational awareness and intelligence gathering

Real-time data is indispensable for making informed decisions. Commanders should obtain current readings from river gauges and meteorological sources while considering upstream risks, including dam releases and runoff from recently melted snow. Victim intelligence is equally vital. Determining the number of individuals involved, their last known positions, time spent in the water and any pre-existing medical concerns can shape search priorities and resource allocation.

Geographic and terrain analysis enhances situational understanding. Utilisation of maps, aerial imagery or drones helps identify access routes, hazard zones and potential natural “pinch points” where victims may become trapped or collect.

Pre-deployment risk assessment

Before committing teams to action, a rapid risk assessment must be conducted and maintained throughout the incident. This includes defining safety zones and exclusion areas to shield responders from unnecessary exposure to danger. A frank evaluation of team capability is necessary: are the rescuers trained, equipped and physically prepared for the current conditions?

All team members must be equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and safe exit and evacuation routes must be identified early. If helicopter support is available, suitable landing zones should be pre-planned.

Rescue strategy and tactical planning

Rescue strategies must be tailored to the scene. The decision whether to use “reach, throw, row, go or helo” tactics should be based on flow conditions, victim location and team capacity. Reliable anchor points for rope systems must be identified, ensuring both strength and accessibility under pressure.

Communication systems must be waterproof, durable and tested prior to deployment. If necessary, hard-wired options should be considered for more robust control. Establishing a clear timeline is important for accountability and resource management, especially given how quickly victim survivability declines in cold or fast-moving water.

Pre-deployment briefing

A well-structured briefing prior to deployment ensures that every member of the rescue team understands their role. This includes team leaders, swiftwater technicians, medics, safety officers and logistics personnel. The briefing should include a review of emergency protocols such as self-rescue techniques, signalling and established cut-off points for withdrawing teams from unsafe conditions.

Contingency planning is essential. Commanders must anticipate and prepare for complications like equipment failure, sudden changes in water levels or even rescuer entrapment.

Ongoing monitoring and postdeployment review

As the operation unfolds, regular situation reports (SitReps) should be relayed to the ICP to support timely decision-making and reallocation of resources. Once the rescue phase is complete, a post-operation debrief should be conducted to evaluate team performance, identify lessons learned and recommend improvements to procedures and training.

Conclusion

Swift-water rescue operations represent some of the most dangerous and technically demanding challenges faced by emergency services. Success in these missions hinges not only on individual bravery and technical skill but also on disciplined planning, inter-agency coordination and the relentless pursuit of safety and situational awareness.

By applying a structured command approach beginning with a thorough size-up, followed by informed strategy, disciplined risk assessment and continuous reassessment, emergency services can mitigate hazards and improve outcomes for both rescuers and victims. Each phase of the operation, from pre-deployment briefings to post-incident reviews, contributes to an evolving culture of operational excellence and preparedness.

Ultimately, effective swift-water rescue management is not simply about responding to crises as they happen, it’s about building a proactive capability that is ready, resilient and refined through training, experience and reflection. In a world where extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe, the ability to mount a safe and coordinated swift-water rescue response is no longer optional; it is essential.