US Coast Guard rescuer Scott Ruskan has been hailed as an ‘American hero’ by the Trump administration after saving 165 lives from a devastating flash flood in Texas.

Scott Ruskan, a rescuer with the US Coast Guard – Photo: HOUSTON CHRONICLE/US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

According to The Independent , Scott Ruskan, 26, a US Coast Guard rescuer from New Jersey, received many compliments after he was deployed to carry out his first mission: evacuating children from the Mystic summer camp in Texas .

Video footage shows Ruskan being pulled from the roof of a flooded house by a helicopter during a rescue mission.

“ That’s what it’s all about, right? That’s why we do this job, taking those risks. That’s why the men and women of the Coast Guard are risking their lives every day,” he told the New York Post .

On July 7, Camp Mystic confirmed that 27 campers and guides had died in the floods. The camp issued a statement: ” Our hearts are broken with the families who are suffering this unimaginable tragedy.”

Founded in 1926, Camp Mystic is a Catholic summer camp for girls located on the banks of the Guadalupe River, approximately 18 miles northwest of Kerrville, Texas.

Nearly 200 people, including campers and staff, were evacuated from the area on July 4, when severe flash flooding occurred, officials said .

US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem – who visited Texas on July 5 – mentioned Ruskan in a post on social media X. She wrote on July 7: ” US Coast Guard lifeguard and Petty Officer Scott Ruskan personally saved the lives of 165 victims during the devastating floods in central Texas.

This was his first career rescue mission, and he was the only medical dispatcher on the scene. Scott Ruskan is an American hero. His selfless courage exemplifies the spirit and mission of the United States Coast Guard.”

Two girls rescued from flash floods in Texas by helicopter – Photo: NEW YORK POST/GageGouldingTV

Ruskan served in the US Coast Guard for more than three years, after previously working as an audit intern at KPMG.

He began his deployment in November after completing his rescue swimming training. He became familiar with the force’s MH-65 helicopter and took additional rescue swimming classes before his official deployment.

That moment finally came on the morning of July 4, when he and his teammates rushed to Blackhawk and MH-65 helicopters near Hunt, Texas, to rescue people at a summer camp.

July is the peak of flash flood season in the United States, and the central Texas region is known as “flash flood alley”. The thin layer of soil covering hard rock and steep terrain allows rainwater to flow quickly, not soaking into the ground, leading to strong currents and sudden flash floods.

The scale of the disaster became clearer on the morning of July 5, when drone footage showed entire neighborhoods completely submerged, with floodwaters rushing through the streets of small towns.

Texas floods enter 5th day, more than 104 people dead1

As of July 8, the flood in Texas, USA, has lasted for 5 days, killing at least 104 people. This number may continue to increase as authorities are still trying to find more missing people.

Image of the rising water level of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County during the Texas floods – Photo: CNN

According to CNN, at least 104 people were killed, with Kerr County – the hardest hit area – recording 84 victims, including 28 children.

Other localities also reported damage: 7 deaths in Travis, 6 in Kendall, 4 in Burnet, 2 in Williamson and 1 in Tom Green.

Dozens of children at summer camp swept away by floodwaters

Some of the worst damage occurred at Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp along the banks of the Guadalupe River.

The site has confirmed the death toll at 27 children and a guide named Chloe Childress (19 years old) – a girl who had just graduated from high school and was spending the summer mentoring children.

Chloe Childress (19 years old) just graduated from Kinkaid High School in Houston and spent the summer working as a guide for children at Camp Mystic – Photo: CNN

According to the Guardian , the water level of the Guadalupe River rose 8m in just 45 minutes in the early morning of July 5 (local time) after heavy rain north of San Antonio, sweeping away the cabins where the campers were sleeping inside.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said there are still about 24 people missing. He said the rescue operation is ongoing urgently, with the participation of more than 20 state agencies and hundreds of volunteers.

“We will never assume they are dead,” one volunteer stressed.

US President Donald Trump has also signed a federal disaster declaration to provide financial and human resources support to affected localities.

According to CNN, the weather forecast for the next few days shows positive signs.

Scattered rain and light thunderstorms today and tomorrow are not expected to pose a risk of new flooding, while sunny weather will return from July 10, contributing to favorable conditions for search, rescue and disaster relief work.

While much of the Guadalupe River has returned to normal levels, some rivers may continue to rise even after the rains stop.

Raises questions about warning system

However, local residents expressed frustration and criticized the disaster warning system. Although the US National Weather Service confirmed that it sent out warnings on the night of the flash floods, experts said that it may have been due to weak signal and personal settings, so not everyone received it.

Additionally, a Kerr County resident said he received a flood warning at 1:40 a.m., when most residents were asleep, and the water level rose so quickly overnight that it delayed response.

Local authorities are still carrying out rescue work and have pledged to improve the warning system following the tragic incident.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said the state will send Urban Search and Rescue to Texas to assist in rescue efforts following severe flooding.

In addition to California, many other states such as Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado and Florida have also announced sending specialized teams to participate in search and rescue operations.

This flood is considered one of the most serious natural disasters in Texas in many years, raising big questions about the ability to respond and adapt to extreme weather caused by climate change.