A Chattooga County Rescue Squad member narrowly escaped injury late Sunday afternoon, after being swept into a drainage tile at a West Halls Valley Road address.

Several families had to be rescued from their homes Sunday due to the rapidly rising water levels stemming from the excessive rainfall on Saturday. 

One of those rescues took place at a West Halls Valley Road residence, where Chattooga County Rescue Squad member Justin Rhinehart had a close call; Rhinehart was wading water toward the home when he stepped off into a ditch and was pulled under by the current – and swept through a drainage tile.

He was pulled from the water by other rescue squad members and transported by Redmond EMS to a Rome-area hospital for treatment.

He was listed in good condition on Sunday afternoon.