Walton County rescue raises questions about emergency response (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

It took three hours to rescue two Crestview hikers from rising water in Walton County last month. Some emergency responders say they could have done it much faster.

Justin Hansen and Ray Coles Jr. were hiking the Florida National Scenic Trail when they became trapped by rising floodwater near Alaqua Creek south of DeFuniak Springs on Jan. 21.

Hansen called 911 shortly before 11 a.m. and emergency crews were on the scene 12 minuets later.

Click to view a photo gallery of the rescued hikers »

Because of protocol, the Freeport Fire Department’s swift-water rescue team that ended up saving Hansen was not a part of the first group dispatched. The team arrived almost an hour after the initial call.

After arriving and locating Hansen, team members were able to pluck him from a tree in about 15 minutes.

Some local rescuers now wonder why the swift-water team was not called out immediately. Others downplay the issue, saying protocol was followed and no harm was done.

Walton County Sheriff Mike Adkinson said the rescue went off without a hitch. Although Freeport firefighters assisted, the rescue would have been successful and efficient in any circumstance, he said.

“It was wonderful that they were able to assist us,” Adkinson said. “But the only time constraint was while we were trying to pin down GPS. It comes down to the Sheriff’s Office trying to balance between whatever assets they have. Then you get into the logistics.”

Adkinson said in a county as large Walton, it can be a challenge to deal with all of the agencies that could be involved in an emergency. Most often, the call goes out to the agency nearest the scene, he said.

In the case of the lost hikers, that was Walton County Fire Rescue.

“We have to try and balance between actual need and what makes sense,” he said. “The effort was coordinated well. The big issue is saving lives. We were grateful they (the swift-water team) were there, but what we try and do is put the right equipment with the right job.”

Freeport Fire Chief Ben Greenslait said the only reason his swift-water rescuers were involved at all was because he called to ask if they could help.

“We all should remember what search and rescue efforts are available to us,” Greenslait said. “If we utilize our resources, we can use them for quicker rescues.”

The call record from Jan. 21 indicates that after Hansen called 911, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched along with Walton County Fire Rescue. Adkinson said the choice was made for geographical reasons.

Walton County Fire Rescue does not have a water rescue team. The Sheriff’s Office does have a beach marine division, which responded immediately. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers also responded.

For the next hour, crews on scene discussed how to reach the hikers.

FWC officers rescued Coles. But when they and the sheriff’s marine unit tried to reach Hansen, they did not have the tools needed to get him.

At 12:09 p.m., after getting permission to respond, Freeport’s swift-water team arrived at the staging area at end of Foreman Road. At 1:38 p.m., team members and FWC officers saw Hansen in the tree surrounded by eight feet of water. They had him back on dry land by 1:54 p.m.

Read more about the rescue»

Greenslait doesn’t like to think about what could have happened if his team had not arrived.

“If you don’t have the proper equipment and the proper training, someone can die,” Greenslait said. “Without the proper trained individuals and the proper equipment, the outcome could have been worse.”