Not only were helicopters the only way out of town during the flood, they were also the best way to rescue people from their rooftops, their hillside property and . . . from the middle of the Russian River?!This picture might not actually be as dramatic as it seems at first glance. A stray caption stuck to the inside of the file folder mentions helicopter-rescue training runs. In other words, the person bobbing along in the fast-moving water at the bottom might be a volunteer fireman instead of a resident in imminent danger.
Or is it? Does anyone remember helicopter rescue training during the flood? Or could this photo be a legitimate rescue?Let us know in the comments below.The Guerneville Flood Project is a week-long dive into the photo archives of the North Bay Bohemian. Read about the project here, and view more 1986 Guerneville Flood photos by clicking here.
