Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X: "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."

Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan rescued nearly 200 people including children from Camp Mystic during catastrophic Texas floods that have claimed 68 lives in Kerr County.

Severe flooding over the Fourth of July weekend has prompted a local state of disaster in Texas. Coast Guard aircrews carried out 12 daring rescue flights near Kerrville, saving 15 campers stranded at Camp Mystic.