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.