dixiegirl1035
I will do it, but I won't like it
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It looks like it made it to National headline TV yesterday. The family said that they were going to issue a response, but I haven't found one.
AR - Debra Stevens dies in flash flood, rude 911 operator Donna Reneau, Fort Smith, 29 Aug 2019
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UK Sarah Cunningham, 31 - last seen in Camden, London at around 3am, Saturday 2 Nov 2024
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dixiegirl1035
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Woman drowns in flood after 911 dispatcher scolds her CNN video
Arkansas woman drowns in a flood after 911 dispatcher scolds her during her final minutes CNN article
"You're not going to die," the dispatcher said in audio released by police this week. "I don't know why you're freaking out... You freaking out is doing nothing but losing your oxygen in there. So calm down."
Stevens said water was pouring into her car. It would soon ruin her new phone.
"Do you really care about your brand new phone?" the dispatcher asked. "You're over there crying for your life. Who cares about your phone."
Stevens said she didn't see the water on the road. She came up on it suddenly. She kept apologizing. The water was starting to reach her chest, she said. She could see people in the distance looking at her. They're probably laughing, she said.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry," Stevens cried.
Stevens at one point said she needed to vomit.
"Well, you're in water, you can throw up," the dispatcher said. "It's not going to matter."
Crying uncontrollably, Stevens asked the dispatcher to pray with her.
"You go ahead and start off the prayer," the 911 operator said.
"Please help and get me out of this water, dear Father," Stevens said.
Again, she apologized for sounding rude. But she was afraid.
"This will teach you next time don't drive in the water," the dispatcher told her.
Stevens insisted she didn't see the flood waters. She's worked her paper route 21 years and never experienced anything like this.
"I don't know how you didn't see it. You had to go right over it. The water just didn't appear."
About 15 minutes into the call, the dispatcher took other calls. Police said many stranded residents were calling that morning.
Stevens continued to weep. The dispatcher tried to describe to firefighters the stranded woman's location.
"I'm on the phone with her," she said. "She's freaking out."
About 18 minutes into the call, the dispatcher asked a firefighter whether he could see Steven's SUV. "Negative," he said. There was confusion about her location.
Stevens cried uncontrollably.
"Miss Debbie you're going to have to shut up," the dispatcher said. "Can you honk your horn?"
"My horn is dead," Stevens said. "Everything is dead."
The water was climbing above the door of her SUV, she said. "Oh, lord help me," she cried. The dispatcher said rescuers were looking for her.
"Oh my god, my car is starting to move," Stevens cried.
"OK, listen to me, I know," the dispatcher said. "I'm trying to get you help... I know you're scared. Just hold on for me because I've got to take other calls."
Stevens starting screaming. She said couldn't breathe.
"I'm on the phone with her right now," the dispatcher said to a rescuer. "She is legit freaking out."
"I'm going to die," Stevens said.
"Miss Debbie, you're breathing just fine because you are screaming at me. So calm down. I know you're scared. Hold on for me."
Stevens is not heard again.
"Miss Debbie? Miss Debbie?" the dispatcher said. "Oh my God. She sounds like she's under water now."
Arkansas woman drowns in a flood after 911 dispatcher scolds her during her final minutes CNN article
"You're not going to die," the dispatcher said in audio released by police this week. "I don't know why you're freaking out... You freaking out is doing nothing but losing your oxygen in there. So calm down."
Stevens said water was pouring into her car. It would soon ruin her new phone.
"Do you really care about your brand new phone?" the dispatcher asked. "You're over there crying for your life. Who cares about your phone."
Stevens said she didn't see the water on the road. She came up on it suddenly. She kept apologizing. The water was starting to reach her chest, she said. She could see people in the distance looking at her. They're probably laughing, she said.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry," Stevens cried.
Stevens at one point said she needed to vomit.
"Well, you're in water, you can throw up," the dispatcher said. "It's not going to matter."
Crying uncontrollably, Stevens asked the dispatcher to pray with her.
"You go ahead and start off the prayer," the 911 operator said.
"Please help and get me out of this water, dear Father," Stevens said.
Again, she apologized for sounding rude. But she was afraid.
"This will teach you next time don't drive in the water," the dispatcher told her.
Stevens insisted she didn't see the flood waters. She's worked her paper route 21 years and never experienced anything like this.
"I don't know how you didn't see it. You had to go right over it. The water just didn't appear."
About 15 minutes into the call, the dispatcher took other calls. Police said many stranded residents were calling that morning.
Stevens continued to weep. The dispatcher tried to describe to firefighters the stranded woman's location.
"I'm on the phone with her," she said. "She's freaking out."
About 18 minutes into the call, the dispatcher asked a firefighter whether he could see Steven's SUV. "Negative," he said. There was confusion about her location.
Stevens cried uncontrollably.
"Miss Debbie you're going to have to shut up," the dispatcher said. "Can you honk your horn?"
"My horn is dead," Stevens said. "Everything is dead."
The water was climbing above the door of her SUV, she said. "Oh, lord help me," she cried. The dispatcher said rescuers were looking for her.
"Oh my god, my car is starting to move," Stevens cried.
"OK, listen to me, I know," the dispatcher said. "I'm trying to get you help... I know you're scared. Just hold on for me because I've got to take other calls."
Stevens starting screaming. She said couldn't breathe.
"I'm on the phone with her right now," the dispatcher said to a rescuer. "She is legit freaking out."
"I'm going to die," Stevens said.
"Miss Debbie, you're breathing just fine because you are screaming at me. So calm down. I know you're scared. Hold on for me."
Stevens is not heard again.
"Miss Debbie? Miss Debbie?" the dispatcher said. "Oh my God. She sounds like she's under water now."
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dixiegirl1035
I will do it, but I won't like it
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An 'uncaring' 911 dispatcher scolded a drowning woman during her final moments, police say USAToday
Later in the call, Stevens pleads with Reneau, telling her she’s scared. Reneau replied that she’s “going to have to hold on” before aid can come to her.
Around 11 minutes in, Reneau scolds Stevens, asking why she drove into water, and telling her that this would be a learning opportunity for her.
“I’m sorry ma’am, I didn’t see it,” Stevens said, to which Reneau responded, “I don’t see how you didn’t see it.”
Three minutes later, Reneau tells Stevens: “A lot of people aren’t going to put themselves in danger just because you put yourself in danger.”
Stevens, later in the call, told Reneau that the water was up to her neck. Seemingly panicked, Stevens interrupted Reneau’s instructions, to which she told her to “shut up.”
After Stephens started screaming “I can’t breathe,” Reneau told her, “Miss Debbie, you are breathing just fine, because you are screaming at me. So calm down.”
Later in the call, Stevens pleads with Reneau, telling her she’s scared. Reneau replied that she’s “going to have to hold on” before aid can come to her.
Around 11 minutes in, Reneau scolds Stevens, asking why she drove into water, and telling her that this would be a learning opportunity for her.
“I’m sorry ma’am, I didn’t see it,” Stevens said, to which Reneau responded, “I don’t see how you didn’t see it.”
Three minutes later, Reneau tells Stevens: “A lot of people aren’t going to put themselves in danger just because you put yourself in danger.”
Stevens, later in the call, told Reneau that the water was up to her neck. Seemingly panicked, Stevens interrupted Reneau’s instructions, to which she told her to “shut up.”
After Stephens started screaming “I can’t breathe,” Reneau told her, “Miss Debbie, you are breathing just fine, because you are screaming at me. So calm down.”
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dixiegirl1035
I will do it, but I won't like it
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‘Don’t know why you’re freaking out’: Arkansas woman drowns on phone with 911 Action5 News
Stevens spent the last frantic moments of her life on the phone with Reneau, who dismissed and mocked her.
Stevens: “Please help me. I don’t wanna die.”
Donna Reneau: “You’re not going to die - hold on for a minute.”
Stevens: “Well I need um, I’m scared. I’m sorry.”
Donna Reneau: “I understand that you’re scared but there’s nothing I can do sitting in a chair so you’re going to have to hold on and I’m going to send you somebody, OK?”
Stevens was on the phone with 911 for about 24 minutes as water filled up her car.
Donna Reneau: "You're not going to die. I don't know why you're freaking out. It's OK. I know the water level is high."
Stevens: “I’m scared. I’m sorry.”
Reneau: “I understand that but you freaking out - doing nothing but losing your oxygen up in there so calm down.”
Stevens: “When are they going to be here?”
Reneau: “As soon as they get there.”
Stevens: "I'm scared. I've never had anything like this happen to me before."
Reneau: “This will teach you next time don’t drive in the water.”
Stevens: “Couldn’t see it ma’am. I’m sorry or I wouldn’t have.”
Reneau: “I don’t see how you didn’t see it. You had to go right over it, so.”
Stevens spent the last frantic moments of her life on the phone with Reneau, who dismissed and mocked her.
Stevens: “Please help me. I don’t wanna die.”
Donna Reneau: “You’re not going to die - hold on for a minute.”
Stevens: “Well I need um, I’m scared. I’m sorry.”
Donna Reneau: “I understand that you’re scared but there’s nothing I can do sitting in a chair so you’re going to have to hold on and I’m going to send you somebody, OK?”
Stevens was on the phone with 911 for about 24 minutes as water filled up her car.
Donna Reneau: "You're not going to die. I don't know why you're freaking out. It's OK. I know the water level is high."
Stevens: “I’m scared. I’m sorry.”
Reneau: “I understand that but you freaking out - doing nothing but losing your oxygen up in there so calm down.”
Stevens: “When are they going to be here?”
Reneau: “As soon as they get there.”
Stevens: "I'm scared. I've never had anything like this happen to me before."
Reneau: “This will teach you next time don’t drive in the water.”
Stevens: “Couldn’t see it ma’am. I’m sorry or I wouldn’t have.”
Reneau: “I don’t see how you didn’t see it. You had to go right over it, so.”
dixiegirl1035
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Fort Smith Police Department
Fort Smith Police Department official Facebook page link for their employee
Fort Smith Police Department official Facebook page link for their employee
PayrollNerd
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I’m perplexed as to why they had so much trouble finding her. She was a newspaper carrier. She would have had a regular route with the exception of maybe a few new stops every now and then. I can see why she struggled to state her location because she was under duress, frightened, may have been on a new road delivering to a new customer. Once they knew she was a paper carrier and saw her cell phone ping, it seems troublesome that they couldn’t find her for an hour after she drowned. I can honestly state this poor woman was a class act, she remained polite until the end. Blessings to her family. I hope the dispatch center can learn from this hopefully saving future lives.
WHAT? So if you are dying, remember not to be rude to your dispatcher. UGH!
One news account said that LE was heading that way, but the main road had already flooded. They had to go around another way to get to her location. Then they couldn't see her car at first, when they did, they had to use ropes, etc. to get to it. The impression was that first responders did all they could, but it quickly became a very dangerous situation for them, too.
As for the 911 dispatcher, there's no legit excuse for her behavior.
Even though it's been repeated so many times that people shouldn't drive through flooded roads, reminding them of that when they're in peril, possibly dying, is wrong.
It said this woman was on her last night working there. She obviously wasn't a good fit for the job.
As a cancer survivor, some people have rude reactions to others in tragic or dangerous situations. Most cancer survivors can tell stories of terrible things people have said to them. Observing people in tragic situations triggers fear in some folks. Their way of dealing with their own fear, unfortunately, is to strike out at the victim. It's their own dysfunctional way of reassuring themselves that they'll never fall victim to a similar tragedy.
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I also wondered how long she had that specific route. Unless it was recent, she should have been able to say something like "I'm near the intersection of Route A and Route B," to help locate her. I know others were stranded also, and that would slow things down, but unless the others were all in similar high-risk situations, they should have immediately made more effort to locate Debra. Ask her about near-by houses, the neighborhood, any other noteworthy markers that could help locate her. At one point she says she sees people. Was she hallucinating? What appalls me even more than the callousness, is the lack of trying to elicit useful information. MOO
Jewels53
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BBM
It seems the dispatcher was to busy criticizing Ms Stevens to ask helpful questions to locate her quickly. jmo
So listening to the audio in the news clip at the top of the thread, the woman who drowned is saying there are people around who can see her and are watching her. I Wonder who and how close they were and why they couldn't get to her.
dixiegirl1035
I will do it, but I won't like it
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This link has over an hour video and one of the First Responders body cam. He sees her and talks to the people in her complex prior to finding her car and afterwards. What is so so sad is that he sees her before her phone goes dead. And I think he heard, and all the First Responders did, that she had passed away right afterwards and that is why there was not immediacy to recover her. When I noted the times, I noted it was 2 minutes difference from when the policeman was saying he found the car and was shining his light on it, and could see her light at the top of her ceiling, and then he walked away.
I just came back from the grocery store and the fire department had a fundraiser in a boot. I gave them money, and I said in memory of Debra Stevens and the 911 failure that must have devastated another fire Department.
https://7news.com.au/news/disaster-...-the-phone-moments-before-she-drowns-c-429022
There is another website that has an hour-and-a-half video of her call and First Responders body cams, but I am running late and I have to just post this as the first one in case somebody else wants to research the longer one.
I just came back from the grocery store and the fire department had a fundraiser in a boot. I gave them money, and I said in memory of Debra Stevens and the 911 failure that must have devastated another fire Department.
https://7news.com.au/news/disaster-...-the-phone-moments-before-she-drowns-c-429022
There is another website that has an hour-and-a-half video of her call and First Responders body cams, but I am running late and I have to just post this as the first one in case somebody else wants to research the longer one.
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dixiegirl1035
I will do it, but I won't like it
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Yes, those folks are captured talking to the first responder on a body cam from law enforcement. They are devastated.
dixiegirl1035
I will do it, but I won't like it
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If you listen to the first responder calling back as to location, he gave the exact same location as Debra did. It is on the body cam listed above, and yes, there were neighbors that were Outdoors overlooking and seeing her car spinning around and calling in. They had gone out that morning to check their car, and saw her car spinning into the guide wires and into the trees.
ETA, they said that they saw the car before it started to get swept away. If memory serves me correctly, from last night, they said that the fire truck arrived right before the car was Swept Away. And we all know where that was in the phone call grr grr
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margarita25
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I think the outcome would have been the same.
It took over an hour to locate her and they can't just drop helping other people to go help her.
They only had 4 dispatchers and 9 police officers on duty that night.
Jmo
It took over an hour to locate her and they can't just drop helping other people to go help her.
They only had 4 dispatchers and 9 police officers on duty that night.
Jmo
DianaElaine
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Trust me .... Donna WILL meet Debra again one day!
With the Lord present this time!
With the Lord present this time!
Ray_of_hope
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When I saw this story on television, I was appalled, outraged and heartbroken. How can anyone treat another being that way? There needs to be some sort of justice for Debra and for her family. When I heard Debra apologizing for panicking while in a dangerous situation because she was being chastised by the dispatcher, I was horrified. And then to find out that Debra had died... OMG!