In the face of one of the most devastating floods to hit Texas in recent memory, Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan became a beacon of hope for families who had lost everything — and nearly lost their lives.
The catastrophic flooding swept through neighborhoods with little warning, leaving thousands stranded and terrified. But for Scott Ruskan, the mission was clear: get to them — no matter the cost.
As part of a Coast Guard air rescue team, Ruskan flew through dangerous winds, torrential rain, and almost zero visibility to reach people trapped on rooftops, in vehicles, and in rising waters. But it was one particular rescue that still haunts — and humbles — him to this day.
“We got a call about a woman holding a baby, clinging to the branch of a tree,” Ruskan recalled, emotion breaking his voice in a recent interview. “The water was rising around her, and I just kept thinking, ‘We cannot be too late.’”
Using a harness and lowered by cable, Ruskan was able to reach the woman moments before the current would’ve swept her away. “She wouldn’t let go of her baby — not for anything,” he said. “I looked into her eyes, and I saw pure fear… but also trust.”
He held them both as they were hoisted up to safety — and then broke down after they were secured. “That’s when it hit me — how close we came to losing them.”
Scott Ruskan doesn’t call himself a hero. “I was just doing my job,” he insists. But for the families he saved, and the nation watching, his bravery represents the very best of what service, sacrifice, and humanity look like.
Since the rescue, Ruskan has been honored by local officials and praised across social media. Still, he says the greatest reward is knowing that every single life matters — and that he helped give people a second chance.
“That woman hugged me like I was family,” he said quietly. “And in that moment, I felt like I was.”
His story is a powerful reminder: even in our darkest storms, there are heroes who rise.
By Iflex9