Elevating EMS Training: Responding to a New Era of Flooding

EMS professionals are often the initial lifeline in the face of disaster. Their ability to assess, adapt, and act swiftly—especially in water-related emergencies—can mean the difference between life and death. This is especially true during large-scale flooding events, when multiple incidents unfold across a wide area and individual rescuers must possess a strong understanding of swiftwater rescue.

Preparing for the Floods Ahead

Recent disasters illustrate the growing urgency for enhanced flood response capabilities. Hurricane Harvey (2017) stalled over Texas, dumping a record 60 inches of rain, flooding 150,000 homes, and causing $125 billion in damage. Hurricane Florence (2018) brought 35 inches of rain to the Carolinas, killing 51 and causing $25 billion in damage. Hurricane Ida (2021) devastated Louisiana before inundating New York City with more than 3 inches of rain in an hour, claiming 13 lives in basement apartments. In July 2025, NYC experienced 2.07 inches of rain in just one hour, shutting down 20 subway stations and grounding 2,000 flights. That same month, central Texas saw 6.5 inches in 3 hours, sending the Guadalupe River to a record 37.5 feet and killing at least 134 people. These events—and many like them—demonstrate that flooding is a national crisis demanding a new approach to EMS readiness.

Custom Designed Swiftwater Training Facilities: The Future of EMS Flood Training

Swiftwater training facilities represent a leap forward—not because they make training easier, but because they make it better: safer, more realistic, and more adaptable. These large, engineered systems use submersible pumps to move millions of gallons of water through customizable channels that simulate real-world rescue environments. Unlike natural rivers, they provide reliable, scalable flows at the flip of a switch, allowing instructors to adjust intensity, pause scenarios for feedback, and repeat complex drills under controlled conditions.

From Riverbeds to Recirculating Currents

These facilities overcome several long-standing barriers in EMS swiftwater training:

• Reliability: No more waiting for the right river conditions.

• Controllability: Adjustable water flows with kill switches; reconfigurable channels utilizing the RapidBlocs Obstacle System to change flow conditions and secure custom items, such as vehicles, in the flow; and observation platforms allow for more controlled instruction.

• Repetition: Scenarios can be paused, reset, and repeated to reinforce muscle memory and decision-making under pressure.

• Location and Capacity: Built near population centers, they offer year-round training for thousands of responders annually ensuring broad readiness for departments in high-risk areas.

An Immersive Experience for Real-World Readiness

Facilities like the upcoming Swiftwater Training for Operation and Rescue Missions (STORM) Ranch in Houston and the New York State Swiftwater Training Facility are redefining how we prepare EMS teams.

In Houston, a 27-acre campus will feature two training channels: one with Class II/III rapids and movable obstacles, and another simulating urban flood conditions like submerged culverts and low-clearance bridges. Trainees will encounter rooftop rescues, vehicle extractions, high-angle rope scenarios, and submerged victim recoveries.  A floodable urban village even allows for confined-space and elevator shaft rescue training.

As one responder put it, "You’re not just running a drill. You’re living the scenario."

Accessibility Meets Innovation

For many EMS units, in-river training comes with logistical hurdles including the need to travel to suitable sites, monitor water conditions, deal with unpredictable hazards, and coordinate across agencies and locations for access. Swiftwater training facilities remove many of those barriers by creating centralized hubs where responders can train year-round in a range of conditions.

Instructors no longer have to gamble on ideal flows. Trainees no longer have to guess what a flood might feel like. Instead, responders encounter curated environments that reflect the specific conditions they’ll face in the field, all while receiving nationally recognized swiftwater certification opportunities.

This level of accessibility also makes these facilities a valuable asset for rural and suburban departments that may lack access to ideal river sites. With scalable programming, multi-agency collaboration, and on-site classrooms, swiftwater rescue facilities offer a one-stop solution for comprehensive flood rescue training.

Investing in Resilience

In today’s global climate shift, more communities are experiencing 100-year floods every five to 10 years. Traditional training models rely on access to an appropriate river environment for training which often puts departments into a highly limited window where they can access the river.  These natural training facilities simply can’t keep pace with the complexity, frequency, or geographic spread of these events. This is where the advantage of a Swiftwater Rescue Training Facility creates a real advantage across a department.  Swiftwater rescue facilities aren’t just about training—they’re about readiness. They allow EMS teams to:

• Hone their technical skills in simulated high-risk environments for large numbers of trainees.

• Build coordination across fire, police, EMS, and emergency management

• Train safely for nighttime, confined space, or vehicle submersion scenarios

• Practice incident command and triage under flood conditions

In Houston, the legacy of Hurricane Harvey and the devastating July 2025 flooding live on in the design of this swiftwater rescue facility. Lessons learned from more than 17,000 rescues performed will be embedded into the training curriculum. Rescuers will train to pull victims from attic crawl spaces, not just open water. Rescuers learn to manage rescues around damaged infrastructure, low-head dams, and surging street flows, all within the safety of a purpose-built environment.

Swiftwater rescue facilities are not just a response to this new reality—they are a proactive investment in preparedness, resilience, and lifesaving capability. By bridging the gap between textbook knowledge and real-world complexity, these purpose-built environments ensure that when the waters rise, EMS responders are ready—not just to react, but to lead with confidence.

About the Author

Scott Shipley, OLY, PE, MS, is an engineer with an expertise in river integration and resilient design, complemented by his extensive background as a three-time Olympic athlete and four-time whitewater world champion. Shipley’s experience as a competitive kayaker informs his approach to tackling complex challenges in river restoration and recreational design, ensuring that development harmonizes with natural ecosystems. His engineering prowess is evident in high-profile projects like Denver’s River Mile and the US National Whitewater Center, where he applies his in-depth knowledge of river function to create sustainable and vibrant community spaces. He is the founder of S2o Design and Engineering, now part of Calibre Engineering.