911 Dispatcher Scolds Helpless Drowning Woman Before She Dies In Floodwaters: 'I Don't Know Why You're Freaking Out'

Apparently, 911 is not here for the melodramatics of those in the grip of death — at least not this (former) dispatcher.

Police in Fort Smith, Arkansas have issued an apology after a state dispatcher scolded a woman who was stranded in floodwaters, coldly telling the caller she was “not going to die” shortly before the woman drowned.

According to reports, Debra Stevens was delivering newspapers at about 4:38 a.m. on August 24 during a storm when her car was swept away by floodwaters. The vehicle got stuck in a thicket of trees off the road amid rising waters, police said, causing the 47-year-old to panic and call 911.

The woman’s call was answered by dispatcher Donna Reneau (pictured above), who was working her last shift as a 911 operator after she resigned earlier this month.

During the call, Stevens told Reneau she couldn’t get out of her car because she didn’t know how to swim. As waters continued to rise up past the stranded woman’s chest, she became alarmed and repeatedly cried:

“I’m going to die.”

But the dispatcher was unmoved. Reneau reportedly told the woman:

“You’re not going to die… I don’t know why you’re freaking out.”

At one point, the dispatcher straight up chastised the caller, saying:

“This will teach you next time don’t drive in the water…I don’t see how you didn’t see it, you had to go right over it, so?”

Um… how is that in any way helpful?!

Later in the 25-minute call, the dispatcher explained to Stevens how first responders were also saving other people from the storm and how many other emergency calls were coming in.

Then, as first responders were trying to locate the stranded woman, the dispatcher told her:

“Ms. Debbie you’re going to need to shut up. I need to you to listen to me.”

About 10 minutes into the call, Stevens asked Reneau to pray with her — to which the dispatcher replied:

“You go ahead and start the prayer. I’ll listen to you, I sure will.”

Stevens was then heard on the call, sobbing:

“Get me out of this water safely, dear Father…”

Unfortunately, Stevens had drowned by the time first responders got to her — about an hour and a half after she placed the call.

The incident has caused Fort Smith police to apologize and review their policies for emergency responses during storms. Chief Danny Baker said he was “heartbroken for this tragic loss of life,” adding in a statement:

“All of our first responders who attempted to save Mrs. Stevens are distraught over the outcome. For every one of us, saving lives is at the very core of who we are and why we do what we do. When we are unsuccessful, it hurts.”

The department said in a statement it was releasing the recording of the call (you can listen to it HERE) “with great reluctance” because it “contains the audio of a dying person’s last moments.”

As for the seemingly cold demeanor of the dispatcher, the department said:

“While the operator’s response to this extremely tense and dynamic event sounds calloused and uncaring at times, sincere efforts were being made to locate and save Mrs. Stevens.”

Sadly, the elements were against them. On top of fire and police units being “inundated with 911 calls from other citizens also stranded in floodwaters” at the time, Stevens “was having trouble describing her exact location and flooding limited the ability of first responders to reach her,” the statement said, continuing:

“When first responders were finally able to pinpoint the location of Mrs. Stevens’ vehicle, the swift, rising water made immediate rescue impossible. An officer on scene removed his duty gear, donned a life vest, and was ready to enter the current tied to a rope but the speed and volume of water made this attempt futile.”

Although police insist everything possible was done to save Stevens, the department has started to look “into our policies, our responses, our dispatch center… We’re looking at what we can do to increase training for our dispatchers in regards to swift water rescue and other things.”

Reneau had been with the department for five years and was a certified dispatch training officer. She took the call during her last shift after handing in her resignation on August 9.

We’re sure it’s a call she’ll never forget.

[Image via Fort Smith Police Dept./Facebook]