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Who Is Scott Ruskan? Heroic NJ Officer Who Saved 165 Girls During Texas Flood Disaster

July 9, 2025, 2:49 pm

Petty Officer 3rd Class Scott Ruskan, a US Coast Guard rescue swimmer from Oxford, New Jersey, is being called an “American hero” for rescuing 165 children and counselors stranded by raging floodwaters at Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ camp in central Texas. The rescue was his first deployment, and his heroic efforts are receiving national attention.

Who is Scott Ruskan?

Scott Ruskan graduated from Warren Hills High School in Warren County, New Jersey, in 2017 and received a bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minor in Homeland Security Policy from Rider University in 2021. His hometown of Oxford, NJ, covers only six square miles and is home to approximately 2,400 residents.

Ruskan is based at the US Coast Guard Station in Corpus Christi, Texas, which is some 210 miles from Kerrville, where the flood catastrophe occurred during the July 4th weekend.

What happened at Camp Mystic?

During the July 4th holiday, heavy rains flooded the Guadalupe River, overflowing into homes and summer camps throughout Kerr County. Rapidly advancing water hemmed in close to 200 children at Camp Mystic, one of the hardest-hit areas.

Officials sent Ruskan to the scene, and treacherous weather delayed his crew by nearly six hours before they arrived at the camp. When he arrived, Ruskan served as the sole accredited rescue swimmer on the scene. He set to work immediately organizing and carrying out the rescue of 165 campers and staff.

In an interview with Good Morning America, Ruskan recalled the chaotic scene, “I had somewhere around 200 children, all frightened and frightened, cold, quite possibly having the worst day of their lives.”

He attributed his Coast Guard training to allowing him to respond quickly and efficiently under stress.

Scott Ruskan: National Acclaim for a First Mission Hero

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem commended Ruskan’s actions on the social media site X, designating him as an “American hero.”

His unselfish bravery is the very essence and purpose of the USCG,” she said, adding that this was his first mission and he was the sole triage coordinator at the scene.

As of today, July 8, the Texas floods have claimed 104 lives, including at least 27 children and Camp Mystic counselors. Ten campers and one counselor were still missing as of Tuesday morning, with search and recovery efforts continuing.

Trump to Tour Flood-Hit Texas

Former President Donald Trump announced he would be touring Texas on Friday, July 11.

“Texas was just so severely damaged by something that was a huge surprise, late at night,” Trump said at a White House dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He promised to coordinate with state officials on the visit.

Texas Flash Floods Kill Over 100, Rescue Efforts Continue Amid Storms & Political Heat

July 8, 2025, 12:34 pm

More than 100 have lost their lives, and numerous others are still missing in devastating flash floods that hit Texas in the early morning hours of July 4. The worst hit has been Kerr County, located in the Hill Country, where swollen river banks and debris-choked land are still impeding rescue efforts.

Authorities have confirmed at least 84 fatalities in Kerr County alone, including 56 adults and 28 children. The county sheriff’s office has stated that 22 adults and 10 children remain unidentified. Authorities are concerned with an increasing number of fatalities as storms continue to plague the area.

The Guadalupe River, swelled by torrential rain before daybreak Friday, burst its banks with catastrophic fury. Flash floods ravaged cabins, trailers, and tents along the riverbank, yanking victims from their beds and carrying them miles down river.

“People were pulled out while they were sleeping. Survivors were clinging to trees,” a local official involved in the rescue efforts stated.

Four days since the tragedy, rescue and search personnel still battle mud-shrouded riverbanks and huge heaps of rubble. Mattresses, fridges, coolers, and felled trees now cover the banks, grim reminders of the festive parties that went awry.

“This is among the country’s worst flash floods in decades,” the BBC reported. Hope for finding more survivors is dwindling as rain and thunderstorms continue to hit hard, making it tougher for emergency personnel.

Texas Flood: Political Storm Rages Over Disaster Readiness

While the state grieves, there is a political controversy that has arisen regarding the disaster preparedness of the federal government. Critics are questioning whether the Trump administration’s recent budget reductions to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) undermined early warnings.

The White House shot down such allegations, claiming the reductions did not affect the response. Texas Senator Ted Cruz made a defense of the administration’s response to the catastrophe.

“There’s a time to fight politically, there’s a time to disagree. This is not that time,” Cruz said. “There will be a time to discover what might have been done differently. I hope that eventually we learn some lessons to do it the next time there is a flood.”

As Texas reels from this natural disaster, residents and officials alike hope that the lessons learned will prevent future tragedies of this scale.

Texas Floods Turn Summer Camp Tragic as Several Girls Go Missing

July 7, 2025, 6:47 pm

Once a place of joy and outdoor adventure, Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Texas, now lies in ruins after flash floods tore through the region. What was supposed to be a fun summer experience has turned into a tragedy, with 78 dead across Texas, including 28 children, and 41 individuals still missing, among them 10 girls and a counselor from Camp Mystic.

The flooding, which began Friday, has devastated central Texas, sweeping away cabins, trees, and lives. Officials have warned that the toll could rise as storms continue, complicating rescue efforts already hindered by mud, debris, and venomous snakes.

Camp Mystic’s Long Legacy Washed Away in Minutes

Founded in 1926 as Stewart’s Camp for Girls, Camp Mystic later became a family-run institution known for nurturing generations of girls through outdoor activities. The camp was once even attended by the daughter of former US President Lyndon B. Johnson. Today, it’s operated by Dick and Tweety Eastland, who represent the third generation of caretakers.

Until just days ago, the camp echoed with laughter and cheer. Girls fished in the river, performed dances, and bonded in green-roofed cabins nestled under oak and cypress trees. That changed overnight as rising waters engulfed the cabins, some housing junior and intermediate campers less than 500 meters from the river.

“The camp was completely destroyed. It was really scary,” said 13-year-old Elinor Lester, a survivor from elevated ground known as Senior Hill.

Tragic Deaths and Acts of Heroism Emerge

So far, families have confirmed the deaths of young campers including Lila Bonner (9), Janie Hunt (9), Sarah Marsh (8), Eloise Peck (8), and Renee Smajstrla (9).

Chloe Childress (18), a counselor, lost her life trying to save the younger girls.

“She died upholding a selfless and fierce commitment to others,” said Jonathan Eades, head of her school in Houston.“To be quite honest, I cried… I just couldn’t imagine the terror… and the sadness,” said former counselor Chloe Crane.

Dick Eastland, the camp’s owner, also died trying to rescue campers.

“If he wasn’t going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way — saving the girls that he so loved,” said his grandson, George Eastland.

Evacuation Chaos and Survivor Accounts

“When we got that news, we were all, like, hysterical and praying a lot,” said survivor Stella Thompson (13), describing the panic when helicopters hovered overhead.

“Kids were in pajamas — some terrified, some wanting comfort,” recalled Scott Ruskan, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer.

State, Federal Response and Investigations

Lt Governor Dan Patrick assured families that search operations would not rest.

“Twenty-four-seven, looking at every tree, turning over every rock… to find your daughter,” he said. Governor Greg Abbott visited the camp and described the scene as “horrendously ravaged in ways unlike I’ve seen in any natural disaster.”

Nearby camps such as Heart O’ the Hills also experienced flooding. Its director Jane Ragsdale was among the dead. President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County on Sunday and said he might visit Texas by Friday.

“It’s a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible,” Trump remarked.

Climate Change and Missed Warnings Under Scrutiny

Scientists say extreme weather like the Texas floods is becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. Questions are now being raised about whether early flood warnings were issued and if evacuations were timely.

Meet Scott Ruskin, the Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Who Saved 165 People in Texas Floods

July 7, 2025, 12:30 pm

A 26-year-old US Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Scott Ruskin, is being called an “American hero” for rescuing 165 individuals on his first-ever mission during the record-shattering flooding in Central Texas.

Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, a hometown boy from Oxford, New Jersey, was a key player in the emergency mission at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer girls’ camp along the Guadalupe River—one of the most severely affected communities during the record-shattering flood.

Directed On-Ground Medical Response Amidst The Mayhem

Based in Corpus Christi, Texas, Ruskin was the lead triage coordinator on the ground as waters rose. He oversaw emergency medical treatment of the victims while coordinating with the US Coast Guard, Army, and National Guard’s 12 rescue helicopters. His coordination optimized the evacuation and emergency treatment processes in one of the worst-hit areas in the state.

The flood response was his first deployment on active duty. His training and fast thinking saved lives throughout the crisis.

Praised by Homeland Security Chief

US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem turned to X (formerly Twitter) to praise Ruskin’s heroism. “United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin personally rescued a staggering 165 victims during the catastrophic flooding in central Texas. It was his first rescue operation ever and he was the sole triage coordinator on site. Scott Ruskin is an American hero,” Noem said.

United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas.

This was the first rescue mission of his career and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene.

Scott Ruskin is…

— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) July 6, 2025

From Accounting to Aviation Survival Technician

Prior to becoming a Coast Guard member, Ruskin was an accountant at KPMG. He joined in 2021 and went through the rigorous Aviation Survival Technician (AST) training in Petaluma, California, which is one of the most challenging military training courses in the US.

Since arriving in Corpus Christi, he had remained on-call status while progressing through advanced rescue swimmer training, such as studying the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter systems. The Texas flood mission was his first deployment and became one of the most outstanding rescue missions in recent history.

Texas Floods: Father of Two Dies After Nearly Severing Arm While Rescuing Family

July 6, 2025, 2:30 pm

A heartbreaking accident occurred in Texas on Friday when 27-year-old Julian Ryan, a two-time father, lost his life attempting to rescue his family from the unexpected flash floods. In his futile effort, he all but cut off his arm, allegedly cutting it “clean off.

As reported by the New York Times, Ryan was in the bedroom of their mobile home in Ingram with his fiancée Christinia Wilson, 6-year-old and 13-month-old children, and his mother when they were awoken by the surging water at approximately 4 am.

Ryan, who had a job as a dishwasher at a local restaurant, initially observed the floodwaters alongside Wilson when it had already risen to their ankles. His 6-year-old son and his mother immediately ran towards the bedroom to find safety.

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Details of the Incident

Wilson described how events turned sinister when the trailer’s front door was thrown open, water flooding in fast. “Right after that, water went up to their waists,” she explained. Desperate to protect their children, the couple put them on a mattress, hoping it would float them to safety.

But the pressure of the water pushed the bedroom door closed and they were trapped. In a last-ditch effort to provide an exit, Ryan punched out the window, but the sharp glass cut deeply into his arm. His mother and Wilson both tried to dial 911, but nobody came as the water kept rising.

He lost so much blood and just didn’t think he would survive,” Wilson said in an interview with the New York Times. Later, the strong floodwaters ripped the trailer in two. Wilson, Ryan’s mother, and the two children survived but Ryan did not.

“He died saving us,” Wilson said, calling Ryan the “best father” who was always ready to assist others “no matter what it cost.

The catastrophic flash floods in Texas have already left at least 51 people dead. Among the missing are a few individuals, including 27 girls at a summer camp in Kerr County. Rescue crews are still searching for victims and stranded survivors by helicopter, boat, and drone.