Coast Guard Hero Rescues 165 in Texas Floods

Petty Officer Scott Ruskan, a newly certified U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer from New Jersey, is being hailed as a hero after saving 165 people during his first-ever mission amid catastrophic flash floods in Central Texas. Stationed in Corpus Christi, Ruskan was deployed to Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp that faced devastating losses, with 27 campers and counselors among the victims as the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in under an hour. Acting as the sole triage coordinator, Ruskan organized airlifts and emergency medical treatment under extremely hazardous conditions. The overall death toll from the floods has surpassed 80, with dozens still missing, and rescue efforts are ongoing. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Texas Governor Greg Abbott have publicly praised Ruskan’s actions, though he credited his team and the bravery of the children and fellow crew members. The disaster is considered one of the deadliest floods in Texas history.