Lincoln task force rescues residents trapped near Columbus, heads to Wahoo Saturday

Lincoln members of Nebraska Task Force 1 helped rescue five people trapped in homes surrounded by floodwater near Columbus on Friday. 

NE-TF1 rescued five people from the community of Monroe, parts of which had been left virtually inaccessible. 

Flooding left several homes completely surrounded by water, and wiped out roads in and around the town. 

Barbara Schoonover was one of the people rescued, despite originally not wanting to leave her home behind. 

“The rescuers talked me into getting into their little boat and coming to safety,” Schoonover said. “And I’m so glad I did.” 

Channel 8 Eyewitness News reporters captured the incredible rescue on camera, as Schoonover and her two dogs were brought to safety by the task force. 

“I told them very much, thank you for all their time, all their effort,” she said. 

NE-TF1 Team Leader Dan Ripley said the team battled frigid water and fast currents, which ultimately proved too much for their boats to handle and prompted a call for a helicopter to aid with rescues. 

Meanwhile, Tanya Feffer waited anxiously on a nearby road as crews worked to rescue her mother. 

“Thank you,” she told first responders. “Their efforts are not recognized enough. They’re risking their lives every day for innocent bystanders, for people who tried to wait it out, who didn’t anticipate the waters rising this  high. Thank you.” 

Despite some residents refusing to leave their homes, Ripley, whose crew was dispatched to Columbus both Thursday and Friday, said he’s happy to help as many as he can. 

“We’re thankful we can do it at home,” he said. “Nebraska is what’s at our door. That’s what we’re here for, that’s who we’re here for. We’ll go wherever the country needs us, but it’s even more rewarding when we can do it for our neighbors, our community.” 

Ripley said NE-TF1 was dispatched Saturday morning to help with more water rescues in Wahoo.