A Coast Guard rescue swimmer completed his first operational mission by helping save 165 people from catastrophic flash flooding in central Texas during Independence Day weekend, marking a heroic debut that has earned national recognition.
Petty Officer Scott Ruskan, 26, coordinated rescue operations at Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ summer camp that experienced some of the most severe flooding during the recent storms that have killed at least 80 people across the Lone Star State.
The New Jersey native and former KPMG accountant enlisted in the Coast Guard in 2021 and had been on standby since November after completing all required training programs.
His transition from corporate accounting to military service represented a dramatic career change that would prove lifesaving for hundreds of Texans.
Ruskan completed basic training before attending Aviation Survival Technician school in Petaluma, California, and was subsequently stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The rigorous training program prepared him for high-stakes rescue operations in challenging environments.
During his waiting period, he familiarized himself with the Coast Guard’s MH-65 helicopter and participated in additional rescue swimming courses while preparing for his first operational deployment.
The iconic helicopter would become his primary tool for saving lives during the Texas emergency.
The emergency call came on July 4th when massive summer rain storms triggered deadly flash flooding throughout central Texas.
The holiday weekend disaster caught many residents and visitors off guard as water levels rose rapidly across the region.
Bryan Winchell, a helicopter search and rescue technician with Texas Task Force 1, contacted the Coast Guard requesting immediate air and ground support for emergency response operations.
The urgent request came as traditional rescue methods proved inadequate for the scale of the disaster.
Texas Task Force 1 operates as a joint partnership between the Texas Army National Guard and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service.
This specialized unit coordinates complex rescue operations during natural disasters and emergencies throughout the state.
Despite the location falling outside their normal operational area, Coast Guard leadership approved the mission based on the severity of the emergency and the unique capabilities their crews could provide to the rescue effort.
By 7 a.m. Friday morning, rescue crews loaded into Blackhawk 60 and Coast Guard MH-65 helicopters and launched their mission toward the flood zone.
The multi-aircraft operation represented the best available resources for the challenging rescue ahead.
The destination was Camp Mystic, located near the banks of the Guadalupe River, where flooding had trapped nearly 200 survivors.
The camp’s riverside location made it particularly vulnerable to the rapid water rise that caught campers and staff during overnight hours.
Five campers between ages 8 and 9 died in the flooding, while a counselor and 11 additional girls remained missing when rescue operations began.
The tragic loss of young lives added urgency to the rescue mission as crews worked to prevent further casualties.
All roadways became impassable, and river currents proved too dangerous for boat rescues, making helicopter evacuation the only viable option for survivor extraction.
The dangerous conditions eliminated traditional rescue methods and placed the entire operation’s success on aerial capabilities.
Rescue crews faced a race against darkness to evacuate stranded flood victims before nightfall complicated operations.
Limited daylight hours created additional pressure on an already challenging mission requiring precise coordination and rapid execution.
During operational planning, crews determined that helicopter weight restrictions required leaving Ruskan on the ground to coordinate triage operations rather than flying rescue missions.
The decision maximized the number of survivors each flight could transport while maintaining operational safety.
Ruskan accepted the ground assignment and began evaluating survivors while directing helicopter crews to locations with trapped victims, the New York Post reported.
The camp occupied higher ground than surrounding flood-damaged areas, where broken trees and twisted vehicle wreckage covered the muddy terrain.
The destruction visible from the camp provided a sobering reminder of the flood’s devastating power throughout the region.
Many survivors, including children and adults, suffered from exposure after fleeing their sleeping quarters during the night wearing only pajamas and no shoes.
The hasty evacuation from flooded buildings left many without proper clothing or protection from the elements.
Ruskan provided comfort to traumatized survivors while coordinating multiple helicopter rescue flights throughout the operation.
His dual role required balancing logistical coordination with humanitarian support for frightened and injured victims.
The rescue swimmer encountered survivors who were “cold, wet and miserable” after spending hours in dangerous conditions waiting for help to arrive.
Their physical and emotional distress required immediate attention alongside the complex logistics of evacuation planning.
“My main job was triaging, and then my second job I kind of picked up was just trying to comfort these kids and the family members and counselors,” Ruskan stated.
His responsibilities expanded beyond technical rescue coordination to include psychological support for trauma victims.
Adult survivors approached Ruskan seeking help locating missing family members and friends during the chaotic rescue efforts.
The emotional weight of these encounters tested his ability to maintain focus while providing hope to desperate families.
Ruskan described the difficulty of managing expectations while prioritizing immediate rescue needs.
“It’s like, ‘Hey, I can’t help you guys locate these people, but I can get you guys out of here right now if we just try to remain calm,’ and just trying to comfort everyone as best I could is kind of what I was doing,” he explained.
The rescue operation continued for several hours under dangerous environmental conditions before successfully evacuating 165 people to safety.
Each helicopter flight required careful planning to maximize passenger capacity while maintaining safety margins in challenging weather.
Ruskan characterized the mission as representing the core purpose of Coast Guard service.
“This is what it’s all about, right? Like, this is why we do the job,” he said.
“This is why we take those risks all time. This is why like Coast Guard men and women, are risking their lives every day.”
Multiple agencies participated in ongoing search and rescue operations, including Coast Guard units, Department of Public Safety, Air National Guard, and Texas Task Force 1 personnel.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised the successful rescue mission on social media, specifically identifying Ruskan as an “American hero” whose actions exemplified Coast Guard values.
