Nearly 200 were stuck during flash floods at a campsite with no way out—one man's grit changed their fate

Rescuers and guards are called upon to demonstrate resilience in protecting people and ensuring their safety. A 26-year-old Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Scott Ruskan, displayed this resilience during the floods in Texas and saved the lives of 165 victims, per The New York Post. The man was exceptional in his call of duty, going above and beyond to do whatever it took to help the victims. Just when they thought there was no hope for them, Ruskan stepped in bravely to become their ray of light and lead them to safety. His noble work is being praised and he is being commended for being a true hero.

Ruskan enlisted in the Coast Guard in 2021 and completed his training before responding to his call in November. He patiently waited while completing additional courses and getting familiar with the Coast Guard’s MH-65 helicopter. The floods in the Lone Star State were when Ruskan was finally called for his very first mission. Bryan Winchell, a helicopter search and rescue technician with Texas Task Force 1 — a partnership between the Texas Army National Guard and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service — called the Coast Guard to understand the situation and provide rapid rescue. 

Despite seeing the ruthless floods and the fact that it was a little out of his territory, Ruskan promptly responded — his reason was touching. “That’s a little bit outside our area of operation normally, but people were in danger and we’re a good asset to try and help people out. These guys were asking for help, so that’s kind of what we do,” Ruskan said. The crew got the Blackhawk 60 and Coast Guard MH-65 choppers ready and braved into the storm to find the people. "We kind of encountered some pretty serious weather, some of the worst flying we've ever dealt with," Ruskan said, per ABC News. They approached Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ summer camp, which had been adversely affected by the flood. 

Five campers had been confirmed dead, and a counselor and 11 other campers were reported missing. Ruskan and the crew made their way — their main goal being to do their best. The Coast Guard was ordered to stay on the ground and assist victims. Despite the strong currents, unmanageable roads and unprecedented dangers his way, Ruskan saw it as an opportunity to get through. “I was like, 'Sounds great, I’ll be more helpful on the ground than I will be in the air right now,'” he said. Right from comforting and guiding campers and victims, looking out for those in need of assistance and even directing the choppers to survivors, Ruskan ensured he left no stone unturned in getting an immediate and effective response.

He understood what the people were going through and took on a “second job of trying to comfort these kids and the family members and counselors.” “This is probably the worst day of their lives. They’re in a terrible situation, they have friends and family unaccounted for, missing, unknown status and they’re looking to me and all the rescuers for guidance and comfort,” he recounted. It was a high-rescue mission and for the next several hours, Ruskan went above the duty of a guard and became a friend, a help, a comforter and so much more. His persistence and determination pushed him to rescue 165 survivors.

At the end of it, Ruskan was still pondering on those not accounted for. “There are still a lot of people missing and unaccounted for, so the mission’s not over yet. It’s not over for us,” he remarked. Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem), Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, posted on X, commending Ruskan for carrying out his very first mission in an unforgettable way. However, his humble response touched hearts. “Honestly, I’m just a dude. I’m just doing a job.” Finally, the Coast Guard shared the mission every rescuer serves so meticulously. “This is what I signed up for. That’s what we were asked to do and we’re gonna do it. If anyone else was on duty that day, they would have done the same thing as us. This is what it’s all about, right? Like, this is why we do the job,” he noted. At the time of writing, at least 120 have been reported dead and 173 remain missing in the aftermath of the deadly floods, according to Gov. Greg Abbott, reported NBC DFW.

If a disaster (natural or human‑caused) has left you distressed, and you need help, please reach out to the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1‑800‑985‑5990 (call or text). samhsa.gov