POTOMAC, MD – Harrowing body camera footage released by Montgomery County police shows the dramatic rescue of a woman and two children trapped in an SUV that was swept away and submerged during last week’s flash flooding.
The video reveals the raw bravery of first responders who entered raging floodwaters on Thursday afternoon near Bradley Boulevard in Potomac. The floodwaters, filled with tree limbs and debris, moved with such force that officers risked being pulled under and swept away.
Screams From the Water
Corporal Megan Wyatt was one of the first officers to reach the scene, quickly joined by Officer Chris Aversa and Sergeant Gary Guard. The urgency was heightened by a father who arrived on site, phone in hand, on speaker call with his panicked wife—she was trapped in the SUV with their 2-year-old child and another young boy she was watching as a nanny.
Inside the submerged vehicle, the children could be heard screaming for help, their voices echoing through the phone and the scene.
“As soon as I got there, Corporal Wyatt was like, ‘We’re going in,’” said Aversa. “And I was like, ‘OK, well, you’re not going alone.’”
Racing Against Time
With Montgomery County Fire & Rescue still en route and precious seconds ticking by, Wyatt and Aversa didn’t hesitate. They waded into the chest-deep, fast-moving water, struggling with every step. The water’s strength made it nearly impossible to stay upright.
“They were screaming for help when I first showed up,” Wyatt recalled. “And once that car got taken down the ravine, the screaming stopped. Obviously, the worst thing crossed my mind.”
The silence was chilling. But moments later, the screaming resumed, offering a sign of life and hope.
Fire & Rescue Arrives
As the officers realized their rope wouldn’t reach the submerged vehicle, help arrived just in time. A Montgomery County Fire & Rescue team pulled up and sprang into action.
By then, one of the children had climbed onto the roof of the SUV. Firefighters used poles to gauge the depth of the water and made their way carefully through the current to reach the trapped trio.
With steady determination, they extracted all three occupants safely, guiding them back to shore where ambulances waited. Drenched and shivering, the two children and the woman were helped into emergency vehicles for treatment.
A Message of Caution
Another car with children had also entered the floodwaters that day, authorities confirmed. Thankfully, all occupants were rescued. But the close calls prompted a stern warning from Sgt. Guard.
“Our biggest message to the community right now is: Turn around. Don’t drown. Don’t enter the water if you can’t see the roadway. We don’t want anybody else to put themselves in danger and be a victim,” he said.
Relief and Gratitude
While Wyatt, Aversa, and Guard battled the current, Officer Shereen Abdelhamed stayed by the father’s side, offering updates and support. She was able to deliver the news he so desperately wanted to hear—his wife and children were alive.
As rescuers guided the soaked children to safety, the cries of the 2-year-old pierced the air. But this time, it wasn’t a sound of fear—it was a sign of life.
Everyone survived.
And thanks to the bravery, speed, and coordination of police and fire personnel, a tragedy was narrowly averted.
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