Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised a heroic United States Coast Guard rescue swimmer who saved 165 flood victims in Texas.
“United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas,” she wrote on X. “This was the first rescue mission of his career and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene. Scott Ruskin is an American hero. His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the @USCG."
AMERICAN HERO 🇺🇸
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 7, 2025
As catastrophic floods swept through Central Texas, Rescue Swimmer Scott Ruskan and his Coast Guard aircrew answered the call of duty without hesitation—saving 165 lives during his first rescue mission.
The extraordinary bravery and selfless service of Ruskan… pic.twitter.com/oDoOCjF6sN
United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas.
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) July 6, 2025
This was the first rescue mission of his career and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene.
Scott Ruskin is…
Coast Guard Hero Scott Ruskan, 26, Saves 165 Lives in Texas Flash Floods
— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) July 7, 2025
I hope he is recognized for his incredible bravery pic.twitter.com/V4iCGScVZB
If you’ve ever wondered what the United States Coast Guard does beyond ocean rescues, may I introduce you to Petty Officer Scott Ruskin. My God, what a man. https://t.co/1VnEpA7hVv
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) July 6, 2025
Ruskin explained to "Fox & Friends" how they focused on Camp Mystic.
"Yeah, as far as right now, we’ve been getting our tasks from higher above mostly from the Army as of right now," he said, reports Fox News Digital. "But a lot of it has just been large state triages, so we were at Mystic yesterday for a long period of time. We probably got about 200 people out of there alone, and it was just, yeah, we just saw a huge crowd, about 200 kids at a campsite. So, we're like, cool that's where we're gonna go, and we're just gonna get as many people out as we can until they're all gone."
Meanwhile, Gov. Greg Abbott also highlighted the efforts of the Texas National Guard, which rescued more than 500 people.
The Texas National Guard has done an amazing job rescuing people in peril.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 7, 2025
They truly are Texans helping Texans.@TexasGuard https://t.co/2nCP5nhWkC
The death toll in Texas has climbed to 82, though dozens are reportedly still missing.