Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem took to X to shine a national spotlight on Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, who personally rescued 165 Texans amid devastating flash flooding in Central Texas.
A catastrophic flash flood over the Fourth of July weekend has devastated the Texas Hill Country, particularly along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County.
At least 51 fatalities have been confirmed across multiple affected counties. At least 27 girls from the Christian summer camp are still missing.
Emergency crews—including the Texas National Guard—have rescued over 850 people, including victims clinging to trees, and conducted more than 160 airlift operations .
HEROS rescuing children in the #GuadalupeRiver floods…
Praying HARD they find and rescue all the missing children, as many camp cabins were washed away. #CampMystic #KerrCounty #Floods pic.twitter.com/DSmpsyOTLx— Muhammad Arshad (@arshadtx) July 4, 2025
Secretary Kristi Noem praised U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, marking his first-ever rescue mission during the recent floods that devastated Central Texas.
Secretary Noem’s post celebrated Ruskin’s selfless actions:
“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 an American hero. His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the U.S. Coast Guard.”
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
According to X user Intelschizo, a former IS1, “Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, an Aviation Survival Technician (AST) with the United States Coast Guard, has rescued 165 people during his first operational mission, responding to the devastating flash floods in Texas. This achievement sets a new record for the most lives saved by a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer in a single mission, surpassing the previous record of 153 saves during Hurricane Katrina. Bravo Zulu to AST Ruskin and U.S. Coast Guard Heartland District personnel currently operating around Kerrville.”
Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, an Aviation Survival Technician (AST) with the United States Coast Guard, has rescued 165 people during his first operational mission, responding to the devastating flash floods in Texas.
This achievement sets a new record for the most lives saved by… pic.twitter.com/oJ50Oo2K3l
— Intelschizo (@Schizointel) July 6, 2025
