Video: Wash. Deputies Make Several Rescues in Flooded RV Park

Deputies on the Pierce County Sheriff's Office Swift Water Rescue Team brought in boats to help navigate rising floodwaters at an RV park to save roughly seven people, including children and elderly residents.

By Puneet Bsanti

Source The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)

Dec. 11, 2025

2 min read

What to know

• Pierce County sheriff's deputies used boats to rescue at least seven people — including elderly residents, children and individuals with disabilities — from a flooded RV park near Orting as the Puyallup River continued to rise.

• About 75 RVs were threatened by floodwater, and some residents refused evacuation despite warnings, leaving deputies stretched across multiple weather-related emergencies.

• Rescued individuals were taken to warming shelters, as deputies emphasized the strain caused when residents decline initial evacuation assistance.

Pierce County, WA, sheriff's deputies make a flooded RV park rescue. — The Pierce County, WA, Sheriff's Office Swift Water Rescue Team save about seven people from a flooded RV park Wednesday.

Sheriff’s deputies rescued a number of people from a flooded RV park near Orting on Wednesday afternoon.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office Swift Water Rescue Team deployed to Bill and Dan’s RV Park on 116th Street East, according to the office on Facebook.

Deputies brought boats to assist with rescuing people whose RV’s were surrounded by rising flood waters, a Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said on Facebook.

As of Wednesday afternoon, about seven people have been rescued, Sheriff’s Office deputy Carly Cappetto told The News Tribune. That number was expected to grow.

Cappetto said those rescued included elderly people, adults and children. Some people did not want to leave their RVs but had to. Residents include elderly people, veterans and some people with mental illnesses.

There are at least 75 RVs trapped one on side of the park and threatened by the rising Puyallup River.

Cappetto said most of the people in the park did not want to leave their RVs because that is where they live. About 25 peoplewe re trapped on the other side of the park on a land mass with water between them and deputies. They chose to stay with their RVs, she said.

For the people who were saved, they were left with wet clothes, no phones or resources. Deputies tried to get shuttles out to take the rescued people to warming shelters.

Cappetto said this particular community was told to evacuate, but most did not want to leave or could not because they are immobile, which she said is understandable. Deputies are also responding to other emergencies due to floods and the weather, so if people expect them to return after refusing help the first time, it is not a guarantee on what time they will come back. It also puts a strain on resources, she said.

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