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An Oregon man was stranded after he plummeted off an embankment. His dog ran 4 miles to get help.
An Oregon man and his four dogs accidentally drove off an embankment, stranding him in the woods. Then police said one of his dogs stepped in to help – by running four miles to alert people that something was wrong.
The Baker County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release posted to Facebook that the incident happened on June 2 when Brandon Garrett was on his way to his camp in the afternoon. Police received a call the following morning from Garrett’s brother, who said he never made it and that family members had found his vehicle but couldn’t reach it, as it was in a “steep, brushy ravine.”
Photos posted by police show Garrett’s vehicle sideways in a creek.
Baker County Sheriff’s Office via Facebook
As Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash and a dog were looking for a way to get closer to the accident site, “he heard a subject yell for help,” police said.
“Brandon Garrett, operator of the vehicle, was located alive approximately one hundred yards from the vehicle above the creek,” police said, adding that the sheriff then provided first aid as other responders had to use chainsaws to clear a path for more help to be able to get through.
Garrett had to be secured in a rescue basket and connected to a rope system to be pulled out and transported by helicopter to a hospital. Officials did not release any details on Garrett’s condition.
Baker County Sheriff’s Office via Facebook
Police said that their investigation determined that Garret had been traveling north on U.S. Forest Service Road 39 with the dogs “when he failed to negotiate a curve causing the vehicle to plummet off the embankment.”
“One of his dogs traveled the nearly four miles to their camp, which alerted the rest of the party that something was wrong,” police said. “Garrett was able to crawl approximately one hundred yards from the vehicle, where he spent the night. … The three remaining dogs were located alive at the crash scene.”
The story quickly drew applause for Garrett’s animals, with many commentators on the story calling them “heroes.”
“All four dogs are heroes, specially the dog with great memory who ran 4 miles back to camp and alerted the family,” one person said on the sheriff’s office post, with another saying, “He is a dog-hero who displayed excellent memory, speed and courage.”
“No words,” another commenter said. “Dogs go above and beyond.”
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$100 million in federal funds released for North Carolina to rebuild roads, bridges damaged by Helene
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation released $100 million in emergency funds on Saturday for North Carolina to rebuild its roads and bridges damaged by Helene.
“We are providing this initial round of funding so there’s no delay getting roads repaired and reopened, and re-establishing critical routes,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement. “The Biden-Harris administration will be with North Carolina every step of the way, and today’s emergency funding to help get transportation networks back up and running safely will be followed by additional federal resources.”
The storm caused rampant flooding that has devastated several towns and killed more than 225 people – with CBS News confirming at least 114 people killed in North Carolina. There was more than 8 inches of rain across the western North Carolina mountains, with some areas seeing more than a foot.
Hundreds of roads across Western North Carolina remain closed, leading to an increase in air traffic as teams scour the region for survivors by air. Air traffic over Western North Carolina has increased by 300% due to relief efforts since the storm cleared, the Federal Aviation Administration and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Mudslides blocked Interstate 40 and other highways in North Carolina and about 400 roads were closed due to damage from Helene. Interstate 40 was damaged at several locations, the Department of Transportation said.
President Biden visited the Carolinas on Wednesday, surveying the flood damage by air from Greenville, South Carolina, to Asheville, North Carolina. Mr. Biden announced the federal government would cover “100%” of all debris removal and emergency protective measure costs in North Carolina for six months.
The Department of Transportation said these relief funds will allow the North Carolina Department of Transportation to act more quickly to fund eligible repairs to their damaged facilities.
Li Cohen and
contributed to this report.
CBS News
Tropical Storm Milton forms in Gulf; forecast to strengthen into hurricane headed toward Florida
Tropical Storm Milton has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane headed toward Florida with possible impacts to its western coast, the National Hurricane Center said on Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are expected to be at 40 mph with higher gusts and Milton is currently moving north-northeast, NHC said in an advisory.
Milton is forecast to undergo a period of rapid intensification before it makes landfall as a Category 2 hurricane across Florida’s west coast, CBS News Miami reported.
The forecast comes a little more than a week after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida and across the Southeast, killing more than 200 people and causing immense destruction. President Biden on Thursday took an aerial tour of Florida’s Big Bend where Helene struck as a Category 4 storm. Hundreds of people are still missing and Mr. Biden said the work to rebuild will cost “billions of dollars” as communities suffer still without power, running water and passable roads.
NOAA
Milton is forecast to move across the southwestern Gulf of Mexico through Sunday night then across the south-central Gulf on Monday and Tuesday before reaching Florida’s west coast by the middle of the week, NHC said. Heavy rain is possible in the region starting Sunday into Monday, CBS Miami reported, and more rain and heavy winds will most likely arrive on Wednesday. Hurricane and storm surge watches will most likely be required for portions of Florida starting Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said.
Along with the heavy rainfall, the hurricane center said to expect risks of flooding.
Residents in the area should ensure they have a hurricane plan in place, the National Hurricane Center said, follow the advice of local officials and check back for forecast updates.
