The catastrophic flooding that struck central Texas this week has taken a heartbreaking toll, claiming the lives of more than 100 people, including several children. Communities throughout the region are reeling as emergency crews continue their relentless efforts to locate additional survivors amid the widespread devastation.
Among the many brave individuals answering the call during this crisis is U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan, who has been widely praised for his lifesaving efforts. Ruskan played a central role in the evacuation of nearly 200 individuals from Camp Mystic, which sits near the heavily flooded Guadalupe River. The area was one of the most severely impacted zones due to the rising waters and rapid deterioration of conditions.
“My main job was triaging,” Ruskan explained in an interview with the New York Post. “And then my second job I kind of picked up was just trying to comfort these kids and the family members and counselors.” He described the harrowing experience of trying to console people during what he believes was “probably the worst day of their life.” As families faced separation and uncertainty, he said, “They’re in a terrible situation; they have friends and family unaccounted for, missing, unknown status, and they’re looking to me and all the rescuers for guidance and comfort.”
His bravery caught national attention when he appeared on the ABC morning show Good Morning America. That’s when former NFL star and current CBS analyst J.J. Watt took to social media to honor him with a succinct yet powerful message: “Hero.” Watt, a revered former defensive end who rose to fame with the Houston Texans, tweeted his admiration along with a prayer emoji, linking to Ruskan’s story.
Watt’s show of respect comes as no surprise given his longstanding appreciation for members of the military and first responders. His grandfather, James Watt, served in the Korean War, a legacy that the football player has honored both publicly and philanthropically. In 2019, Watt collaborated with Reebok on a tribute sneaker featuring his grandfather’s name, division, battalion, and regiment. “The best part of the shoe is right here,” Watt pointed out at the time. “Intertwined in the shoe it has James Watt… so it’s a really, really special shoe.” All profits from the limited edition footwear were donated to Honor Flight, a nonprofit that brings veterans to Washington D.C. memorials built in their honor.
Flood rescue operations remain in full swing as the United Cajun Navy and various relief groups continue their arduous work across the region. Incident coordinator Josh Gill told CNN that emotional resilience is one of the biggest challenges responders face. “The hardest part is working through the emotions,” Gill said. “We know that there’s children missing and there’s families missing—trying to work through the emotions.” He added, “We want to hit every treetop, every rubble pile and find as many people as we possibly can, and we still hope, every morning, and we pray that we’re going to find survivors.”
J.J. Watt’s poignant recognition of Ruskan’s rescue mission serves as a reminder of the everyday heroes who step up in the face of adversity and tragedy.
