In what has become one of the most heroic stories to emerge from the devastating Texas floods over the July 4 weekend, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan rescued nearly 200 people in his very first rescue mission.
Ruskan, an aviation survival technician 3rd class stationed in Corpus Christi, was deployed to the heart of the disaster zone in Kerr County. There, he saved 165 individuals directly from rising floodwaters, including dozens of children stranded at Camp Mystic — a Christian all-girls summer camp that was among the hardest-hit locations.
Torrential Flooding Claims Lives
The floods, triggered by unprecedented rainfall and flash floods, overwhelmed central Texas beginning early July 4. The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes, washing away cars, homes, and entire campsites. The death toll has reached at least 104 statewide, with Kerr County alone accounting for 84 fatalities — including 56 adults and 28 children.
Camp Mystic, in particular, experienced catastrophic conditions. Ruskan arrived to find around 200 children in distress, alone and surrounded by rapidly rising water. “They were all scared, terrified, cold, having probably the worst day of their lives,” he told Good Morning America.
A First Mission Marked by Heroism
In an interview with Fox & Friends, Ruskan said his team targeted the camp after spotting a large crowd of children in need of urgent evacuation. “We were like, ‘Cool, that’s where we’re going to go and get as many people out as we can,’” he recalled.
Despite it being his first active rescue mission, Ruskan said he leaned on his extensive training: “Coast Guard rescue swimmers get some of the highest-level training in the world. I really just relied on that.”
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem publicly praised Ruskan’s actions on X (formerly Twitter), calling him “an American hero” and highlighting that he was the only triage coordinator on site at the time. “His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the @USCG,” she wrote.
Who Is Petty Officer Scott Ruskan?
Originally from New Jersey, Ruskan graduated from Rider University in 2021 and joined the U.S. Coast Guard the following year. His LinkedIn profile identifies him as a rescue swimmer with the service since 2022. His remarkable actions during the floods have brought national recognition, and he is now being hailed as a symbol of resilience and bravery amid the state’s ongoing recovery efforts.
As Texas mourns the lives lost and begins the long path to rebuilding, Ruskan’s courage stands out as a powerful example of dedication and service in the face of overwhelming disaster.