Latest news with #Ruskin
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Texas flooding live updates: At least 82 killed, including 27 girls and counselors from Camp Mystic
At least 82 people have died and more than 40 others are missing in Texas after flash flooding ravaged the state over the Fourth of July weekend. Across the state, rescuers continue their efforts to search for the dozens still missing, including 10 campers and one counselor at an all-girls camp located along the Guadalupe River, near San Antonio, which rose more than 20 feet in less than two hours. Camp Mystic confirmed that 27 campers and counselors died during the weekend floods. Parts of central Texas are bracing for another day of localized flash flooding threats caused by slow-moving thunderstorms in the flood-ravaged area, according to weather officials. The storms could produce another 2 to 4 inches of rain, with an isolated total of up to 10 inches, according to the National Weather Service's Austin-San Antonio office. Nearly 5 million people, including those in the disaster areas, are under a flood watch that has been extended until 7 p.m. local time. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is demanding an investigation into whether key vacancies at National Weather Service offices "contributed to the catastrophic loss of life" in this weekend's flooding in Texas. In a letter to the Commerce Department on Monday, Schumer urged the agency's inspector general to immediately 'open an investigation into the scope, breadth, and ramifications of whether staffing shortages at key local National Weather Service (NWS) stations contributed to the catastrophic loss of life and property during the deadly flooding.' Schumer said that 'vital forecasting, meteorology and coordination roles" were vacant at NWS offices in San Antonio and San Angelo. 'These are the experts responsible for modeling storm impacts, monitoring rising water levels, issuing flood warnings, and coordinating directly with local emergency managers about when to warn the public and issue evacuation orders,' Schumer wrote. 'To put it plainly: they help save lives.' Scott Ruskin, a rescue swimmer for the U.S. Coast Guard, is being hailed as a hero for saving 165 people at Camp Mystic amid the deadly flash flooding on July 4. It was Ruskin's "first experience" saving lives at this magnitude, having completed his training six months prior, he told Good Morning America on Monday. "They don't really know what my experience is or my rank or my age," he said. "They just know, 'Hey this guy is a professional, and he's here to help us.' And I kind of had to live up to that standard." Ruskin said he has a different perspective on who the "real heroes" were in this emergency situation: "The real heroes, I think, were the kids on the ground," he told GMA. "Those guys are heroic, and they were dealing with some of the worst times of their lives, and they were staying strong. That helped inspire me to get in there and help them out." Pope Leo expressed his condolences to the victims affected by the flash floods in Texas, writing in a post on X on Sunday: "I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters, who were at the summer camp, in the disaster caused by flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States. We pray for them." I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters, who were at the summer camp, in the disaster caused by flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States. We pray for them. — Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) July 6, 2025 At a morning press conference, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said that as of 8:30 a.m., 75 bodies had been recovered, including 48 adults and 27 children. Of those that were recovered, 24 are pending identification, Leitha said. He added that 10 campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic remain unaccounted for. Earlier Monday, the camp confirmed that 27 campers and counselors were killed in the deadly floods. "Reuniting the families remains our top priority," the sheriff said. In a live report from Camp Mystic on Sunday, CNN's Pamela Brown revealed that she attended the all-girls summer camp in Hunt, Texas, as a child. 'It's surreal coming back here 30 years later,' Brown said. 'I was a 10-year-old little camper here, full of so much hope and joy. It's a magical place, and I remember the excitement and anticipation of coming to Camp Mystic.' Brown said she was "overwhelmed' with emotion and memories of the camp, which confirmed Monday that 27 people, including campers and counselors, died in the July 4 floods. "I can't get over looking at those cabins right next to the Guadalupe River. That river was the source of so much joy and fun for us. ... That is what we loved,' Brown said. 'To think that that same river is the source of this devastation, it's just hard to wrap my head around. And it's such a magical place that now, all these girls, these sweet young campers who had to evacuate, and their families, so much innocence has now been lost. And I just can't help but think about them and pray for them and just hope that more are found alive.' —@PamelaBrownCNN was a camper at Camp Mystic thirty years ago. She is back there today anchoring for CNN."That river was the source of so much joy and fun for us... To think that that same river is the source of this devastation, it's just hard to wrap my head around." — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 6, 2025 Texas-born celebrities Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner and Hilary Duff posted messages of support on Instagram for the victims of the deadly flash floods. "Heartbroken doesn't begin to cover it. Consumed. Obsessed. Praying for even a shred of a miracle — to find a child alive in the wake of this boundless disaster," Duff, a Houston native, wrote in a statement on Instagram. "Tears fall every time I imagine one of these families receiving bad news... waiting... or entire families lost. Just gone. It's too much to comprehend." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hilary Duff (@hilaryduff) "I was — and forever will be — that girl with a wild hearted, fierce love for my barefoot summers at camp in the Texas Hill country," she continued. "It imprints on your soul. It changes your identity. It's a realm of true magic. You could never imagine an ending this tragic." McConaughey, who was born in Uvalde, Texas, also shared a statement posted on Instagram. "At least 70 lives have been lost, many more are unaccounted for, and countless Texans are hurting — inside and out," McConaughey's statement read. "If you're able, please lend a helping hand where and how you can. It's gonna be a long road ahead, but right now the shock, the pain, and the chaos need the steady hand of a neighbor." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Matthew McConaughey (@officiallymcconaughey) Garner, who was born in Houston, posted a four-word message to an Instagram story: "Texas. God, be near." Speaking to reporters Sunday, President Trump said he would "probably" visit flood-ravaged Texas on Friday. 'I would have done it today, but we'd just be in their way,' Trump said before boarding Air Force One after spending the weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J. 'It's a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible.' Earlier in the day, Trump signed an emergency disaster declaration for Kerr County, Texas, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist relief efforts. But the president declined to discuss whether he still wants to phase out FEMA, saying it was "something we can talk about later, but right now they're busy working." Trump also rejected the idea that cuts to the National Weather Service made as part of his widespread government spending reductions played a role in the tragedy. 'This was a thing that happened in seconds," he said. "Nobody expected it. Nobody saw it. Very talented people there, and they didn't see it.' A Texas high school is remembering one of its graduates, who was a counselor at Camp Mystic and died in the catastrophic flooding over the weekend. ABC News reports: Chloe Childress, a counselor at Camp Mystic, was killed during the devastating flooding in Hunt, Texas, over the holiday weekend, according to a representative of her high graduated from The Kinkaid School earlier this year and was set to attend the University of Texas at Austin in the Eades, the head of The Kinkaid School, remembered Childress as someone who had a "remarkable way of making people feel seen" and "steady compassion that settled a room.""Whether it was sharing her own challenges to ease someone's burden or quietly cheering a teammate or classmate through a tough day, Chloe made space for others to feel safe, valued, and brave. She understood what it meant to be part of a community, and more than that, she helped build one," Eades wrote in a letter to the school community. Read more from ABC News: Texas high school says Camp Mystic counselor was among those killed in flooding In the aftermath of the deadly flash floods in Texas, questions are mounting over whether more could have been done to warn people in the path of the floodwaters. As the Texas Tribune reports, state and local officials are pointing to weather forecasts that did not accurately predict the intensity of the rainfall, while some forecasters have suggested that local officials and camp leadership should have heeded the warnings that were issued: Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, on Friday pointed to NWS forecasts from earlier in the week that projected up to 6 inches of rain. 'It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,' Kidd County Judge Rob Kelly echoed Kidd. When he was asked why camps along the Guadalupe were not evacuated, Kelly told reporters the county had 'no reason to believe that this was going to be anything like what's happened here.'However, warnings were issued about the potential for flash flooding hours before the waters reached their peak. Rain began to fall around midnight, and the first flash flood warning was issued by the NWS at 1:14 a.m. Friday, [the National Weather Service's Bob] Fogarty said. That warning should have triggered a response by local emergency management and local media to spread the word to those in harm's way, as well as the Emergency Alert System that broadcasts warnings to televisions and radios. Read more here from the Texas Tribune: In Texas region prone to catastrophic floods, questions grow about lack of warning Emma Foltz, a counselor at Camp Mystic, helped evacuate 14 of her campers to safety, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said on social media. Landry says Foltz of Alexandria, La., has been a counselor at the Texas camp for three years. Emma Foltz, of Alexandria, Louisiana and rising senior at Louisiana Tech has been a camp counselor at Camp Mystic in Texas for three years. She played an instrumental role in helping evacuate 14 of her campers to safety. Please join me in thanking Emma for all her hard work and… — Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) July 6, 2025 Images taken in the aftermath of the deadly flooding at Camp Mystic show muddy, waterlogged debris, including bunk beds, suitcases and stuffed animals, inside cabins at the all-girls Christian summer camp, where at least 27 campers and counselors died. A time-lapse video from Friday shows flood waters rushing in within a span of 30 minutes along the Llano River in Kingsland, Texas, which is located about 95 miles northeast of Camp Mystic. The following video was obtained by CNN. Slow-moving thunderstorms could cause more flash flooding over central Texas today, forecasters say, hampering search and rescue efforts. According to the National Weather Service's Austin-San Antonio office, 2 to 4 inches of additional rainfall with "isolated amounts up to 10 inches" could fall in Hill Country. Flood watches remain in effect until 7 p.m. local time. "Any additional heavy rainfall over hardest hit areas of the past few days will lead to rapid runoff and flash flooding," the weather service said. 'Stay alert for Flash Flood Warnings!" There remains a threat of flash flooding overnight and through the day on Monday somewhere over the Flood Watch area. Difficult to pinpoint exact locations where isolated heavier amounts occur. Any additional heavy rainfall will lead to rapid runoff and flash flooding. — NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) July 7, 2025 Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp located along the Guadalupe River, which rose over 20 feet in less than two hours, has been left reeling from the devastating floods over the weekend. The camp confirmed the loss of campers and counselors in a post on its website on Monday: Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected. May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us. The death toll from the flash floods in Texas continues to rise, officials say. More than 80 people — including 28 children — have been killed in the floods that struck early on July 4. Dozens remain missing, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said, as search and rescue efforts continue. Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp, confirmed that 27 campers and counselors died in the floods. President Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County, where at least 68 people died. Weather forecasters said that additional rounds of heavy rains could trigger more flooding in central Texas, where flash flood warnings remain in place. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is demanding an investigation into whether key vacancies at National Weather Service offices "contributed to the catastrophic loss of life" in this weekend's flooding in Texas. In a letter to the Commerce Department on Monday, Schumer urged the agency's inspector general to immediately 'open an investigation into the scope, breadth, and ramifications of whether staffing shortages at key local National Weather Service (NWS) stations contributed to the catastrophic loss of life and property during the deadly flooding.' Schumer said that 'vital forecasting, meteorology and coordination roles" were vacant at NWS offices in San Antonio and San Angelo. 'These are the experts responsible for modeling storm impacts, monitoring rising water levels, issuing flood warnings, and coordinating directly with local emergency managers about when to warn the public and issue evacuation orders,' Schumer wrote. 'To put it plainly: they help save lives.' Scott Ruskin, a rescue swimmer for the U.S. Coast Guard, is being hailed as a hero for saving 165 people at Camp Mystic amid the deadly flash flooding on July 4. It was Ruskin's "first experience" saving lives at this magnitude, having completed his training six months prior, he told Good Morning America on Monday. "They don't really know what my experience is or my rank or my age," he said. "They just know, 'Hey this guy is a professional, and he's here to help us.' And I kind of had to live up to that standard." Ruskin said he has a different perspective on who the "real heroes" were in this emergency situation: "The real heroes, I think, were the kids on the ground," he told GMA. "Those guys are heroic, and they were dealing with some of the worst times of their lives, and they were staying strong. That helped inspire me to get in there and help them out." Pope Leo expressed his condolences to the victims affected by the flash floods in Texas, writing in a post on X on Sunday: "I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters, who were at the summer camp, in the disaster caused by flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States. We pray for them." I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters, who were at the summer camp, in the disaster caused by flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States. We pray for them. — Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) July 6, 2025 At a morning press conference, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said that as of 8:30 a.m., 75 bodies had been recovered, including 48 adults and 27 children. Of those that were recovered, 24 are pending identification, Leitha said. He added that 10 campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic remain unaccounted for. Earlier Monday, the camp confirmed that 27 campers and counselors were killed in the deadly floods. "Reuniting the families remains our top priority," the sheriff said. In a live report from Camp Mystic on Sunday, CNN's Pamela Brown revealed that she attended the all-girls summer camp in Hunt, Texas, as a child. 'It's surreal coming back here 30 years later,' Brown said. 'I was a 10-year-old little camper here, full of so much hope and joy. It's a magical place, and I remember the excitement and anticipation of coming to Camp Mystic.' Brown said she was "overwhelmed' with emotion and memories of the camp, which confirmed Monday that 27 people, including campers and counselors, died in the July 4 floods. "I can't get over looking at those cabins right next to the Guadalupe River. That river was the source of so much joy and fun for us. ... That is what we loved,' Brown said. 'To think that that same river is the source of this devastation, it's just hard to wrap my head around. And it's such a magical place that now, all these girls, these sweet young campers who had to evacuate, and their families, so much innocence has now been lost. And I just can't help but think about them and pray for them and just hope that more are found alive.' —@PamelaBrownCNN was a camper at Camp Mystic thirty years ago. She is back there today anchoring for CNN."That river was the source of so much joy and fun for us... To think that that same river is the source of this devastation, it's just hard to wrap my head around." — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 6, 2025 Texas-born celebrities Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner and Hilary Duff posted messages of support on Instagram for the victims of the deadly flash floods. "Heartbroken doesn't begin to cover it. Consumed. Obsessed. Praying for even a shred of a miracle — to find a child alive in the wake of this boundless disaster," Duff, a Houston native, wrote in a statement on Instagram. "Tears fall every time I imagine one of these families receiving bad news... waiting... or entire families lost. Just gone. It's too much to comprehend." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hilary Duff (@hilaryduff) "I was — and forever will be — that girl with a wild hearted, fierce love for my barefoot summers at camp in the Texas Hill country," she continued. "It imprints on your soul. It changes your identity. It's a realm of true magic. You could never imagine an ending this tragic." McConaughey, who was born in Uvalde, Texas, also shared a statement posted on Instagram. "At least 70 lives have been lost, many more are unaccounted for, and countless Texans are hurting — inside and out," McConaughey's statement read. "If you're able, please lend a helping hand where and how you can. It's gonna be a long road ahead, but right now the shock, the pain, and the chaos need the steady hand of a neighbor." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Matthew McConaughey (@officiallymcconaughey) Garner, who was born in Houston, posted a four-word message to an Instagram story: "Texas. God, be near." Speaking to reporters Sunday, President Trump said he would "probably" visit flood-ravaged Texas on Friday. 'I would have done it today, but we'd just be in their way,' Trump said before boarding Air Force One after spending the weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J. 'It's a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible.' Earlier in the day, Trump signed an emergency disaster declaration for Kerr County, Texas, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist relief efforts. But the president declined to discuss whether he still wants to phase out FEMA, saying it was "something we can talk about later, but right now they're busy working." Trump also rejected the idea that cuts to the National Weather Service made as part of his widespread government spending reductions played a role in the tragedy. 'This was a thing that happened in seconds," he said. "Nobody expected it. Nobody saw it. Very talented people there, and they didn't see it.' A Texas high school is remembering one of its graduates, who was a counselor at Camp Mystic and died in the catastrophic flooding over the weekend. ABC News reports: Chloe Childress, a counselor at Camp Mystic, was killed during the devastating flooding in Hunt, Texas, over the holiday weekend, according to a representative of her high graduated from The Kinkaid School earlier this year and was set to attend the University of Texas at Austin in the Eades, the head of The Kinkaid School, remembered Childress as someone who had a "remarkable way of making people feel seen" and "steady compassion that settled a room.""Whether it was sharing her own challenges to ease someone's burden or quietly cheering a teammate or classmate through a tough day, Chloe made space for others to feel safe, valued, and brave. She understood what it meant to be part of a community, and more than that, she helped build one," Eades wrote in a letter to the school community. Read more from ABC News: Texas high school says Camp Mystic counselor was among those killed in flooding In the aftermath of the deadly flash floods in Texas, questions are mounting over whether more could have been done to warn people in the path of the floodwaters. As the Texas Tribune reports, state and local officials are pointing to weather forecasts that did not accurately predict the intensity of the rainfall, while some forecasters have suggested that local officials and camp leadership should have heeded the warnings that were issued: Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, on Friday pointed to NWS forecasts from earlier in the week that projected up to 6 inches of rain. 'It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,' Kidd County Judge Rob Kelly echoed Kidd. When he was asked why camps along the Guadalupe were not evacuated, Kelly told reporters the county had 'no reason to believe that this was going to be anything like what's happened here.'However, warnings were issued about the potential for flash flooding hours before the waters reached their peak. Rain began to fall around midnight, and the first flash flood warning was issued by the NWS at 1:14 a.m. Friday, [the National Weather Service's Bob] Fogarty said. That warning should have triggered a response by local emergency management and local media to spread the word to those in harm's way, as well as the Emergency Alert System that broadcasts warnings to televisions and radios. Read more here from the Texas Tribune: In Texas region prone to catastrophic floods, questions grow about lack of warning Emma Foltz, a counselor at Camp Mystic, helped evacuate 14 of her campers to safety, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said on social media. Landry says Foltz of Alexandria, La., has been a counselor at the Texas camp for three years. Emma Foltz, of Alexandria, Louisiana and rising senior at Louisiana Tech has been a camp counselor at Camp Mystic in Texas for three years. She played an instrumental role in helping evacuate 14 of her campers to safety. Please join me in thanking Emma for all her hard work and… — Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) July 6, 2025 Images taken in the aftermath of the deadly flooding at Camp Mystic show muddy, waterlogged debris, including bunk beds, suitcases and stuffed animals, inside cabins at the all-girls Christian summer camp, where at least 27 campers and counselors died. A time-lapse video from Friday shows flood waters rushing in within a span of 30 minutes along the Llano River in Kingsland, Texas, which is located about 95 miles northeast of Camp Mystic. The following video was obtained by CNN. Slow-moving thunderstorms could cause more flash flooding over central Texas today, forecasters say, hampering search and rescue efforts. According to the National Weather Service's Austin-San Antonio office, 2 to 4 inches of additional rainfall with "isolated amounts up to 10 inches" could fall in Hill Country. Flood watches remain in effect until 7 p.m. local time. "Any additional heavy rainfall over hardest hit areas of the past few days will lead to rapid runoff and flash flooding," the weather service said. 'Stay alert for Flash Flood Warnings!" There remains a threat of flash flooding overnight and through the day on Monday somewhere over the Flood Watch area. Difficult to pinpoint exact locations where isolated heavier amounts occur. Any additional heavy rainfall will lead to rapid runoff and flash flooding. — NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) July 7, 2025 Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp located along the Guadalupe River, which rose over 20 feet in less than two hours, has been left reeling from the devastating floods over the weekend. The camp confirmed the loss of campers and counselors in a post on its website on Monday: Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected. May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us. The death toll from the flash floods in Texas continues to rise, officials say. More than 80 people — including 28 children — have been killed in the floods that struck early on July 4. Dozens remain missing, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said, as search and rescue efforts continue. Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp, confirmed that 27 campers and counselors died in the floods. President Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County, where at least 68 people died. Weather forecasters said that additional rounds of heavy rains could trigger more flooding in central Texas, where flash flood warnings remain in place.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Coast Guard Swimmer Who Rescued 165 from Camp Mystic amid Texas Floods Speaks Out: 'Real Heroes Were the Kids on the Ground'
Scott Ruskin, a rescue swimmer for the U.S. Coast Guard, helped coordinate the rescue of 165 people at Camp Mystic amid the deadly flooding in Central Texas on Friday, July 5 He set out with a team on what would be his first mission in the role, saying, "I just happened to be on the duty crew" "They just know, 'Hey this guy is a professional, and he's here to help us.' And I kind of had to live up to that standard," he reflected of the children that he encountered amid the rescueA young Coast Guard rescue swimmer is being hailed as a hero after saving 165 people at Camp Mystic amid the devastating flooding in Texas. Around 7 a.m. on Friday, July 4, Scott Ruskin was on duty at the U.S. Coast Guard's Air Station Corpus Christi in Texas when the call came in for his team to respond to deadly flooding that was sweeping across Central Texas. "I just happened to be on the duty crew," the 26-year-old New Jersey native said while appearing on the Monday, July 7, episode of Good Morning America. He noted that a flight between Corpus Christi, Texas, and Hunt, Texas, would usually only take about an hour. However, "some pretty serious weather" led to "some of the worst flying we've ever dealt with." Ruskin estimated that the flight actually took between seven and eight hours. Once they arrived, they landed at Camp Mystic, a girl's camp located along the Guadalupe River. "We decided to leave me on scene at Camp Mystic. That was kind of our main triage site we were trying to help out with," he recalled, explaining that the thought process was that it would free up more space on the rescue helicopter so that victims could be taken to safety. He continued, saying, "I kind of discovered I was the only person there as far as first responders go. So I had about 200, kids mostly. All scared, terrified, cold, having probably the worst day of their life. And I just kind of needed to triage them, get them to a higher level of care and get 'em off the flood zone." The heroic first responder worked alongside members of the United States Army National Guard to get the people loaded and to safety. "We kind of came up with two different landing zones. There was one off an archery field and then one in a soccer field. We were able to kind of land those 60s [rescue helicopters] in there. I was kind of the main guy as far as grabbing people," he said. To get them to safety, Ruskin added that he was guiding groups of between 10 and 15 children and some of the adults on the scene. Their goal was to fly them to a different landing zone that "was kind of safe ad had more first responders than just myself." Having completing his rescue swimmer training only six months prior, this was Ruskin's "first experience" saving lives at this magnitude. "I really just kind of relied on the training we get. Coast Guard rescue swimmers get some of the highest level training in the world. So really just kind of relied on that, just knowing that any of the rescue swimmers in the Coast Guard would have done the exact same if not better than me," he said. He was also bolstered by the children on the scene, who he knew were relying on his skills. "They don't really know what my experience is or my rank or my age," he said. "They just know, 'Hey this guy is a professional, and he's here to help us.' And I kind of had to live up to that standard." While Ruskin has been hailed as a hero, he has a different perspective: "The real heroes, I think, were the kids on the ground," he told GMA. "Those guys are heroic, and they were dealing with some of the worst times of their lives, and they were staying strong. That helped inspire me to get in there and help them out." Ruskin joined the Coast Guard in 2021, according to the New York Post. 'So we basically got the majority of the people out of Camp Mystic, which is awesome. And I feel like we did a lot of good that day, but obviously it's still super sad,' he told the Post. 'There's still a lot of people missing and unaccounted for, so the mission's not over yet. It's not over for us. In an official statement, Camp Mystic confirmed that 27 campers and counselors perished in the floods. According to reporting by CNN, 10 of the campers and one counselor are also among the missing. "Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly," the organization wrote, adding, "We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every level." Among the dead is the camp's owner Richard "Dick" Eastland. "[H]is last act of kindness and sacrifice was working to save the lives of campers," a friend, Paige W. Sumner, wrote in tribute to the Eastland, who is survived by his wife and co-director Tweety Eastland, in the Kerrville Daily Times. The current death toll amid the flooding has risen to at least 82 people with more missing, according to the latest estimates by CNN. As the area continues to suffer from rain, the US National Weather Service for Austin-San Antonio announced on Facebook that a flood watch remains in effect through 7 p.m. on Monday, July 7. To learn how to help support the victims and recovery efforts from the Texas floods, click here. Read the original article on People
Irish Examiner
06-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Irish Examiner
Save or Splurge? Two outdoor rugs for patio dining and relaxation
SAVE Designed with multiple geometric patterns, the Ruskin dark terra flatweave mixes soft cream and red for a more contemporary finish and can be used indoors out of season; €110, 160x230cm, SPLURGE Laura Ashley's Porchester rug is designed around traditional geometrics and florals on a solid poppy red background for both outdoor and indoor use; €299 140x200cm,
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Time of India
15 years on, cop jailed for 2 lakh bribe to turn crime into civil case
Chennai: A man facing two criminal cases was told he could make them "disappear" for 2 lakh. He didn't pay. He went to vigilance sleuths instead. The next morning, he showed up with tainted currency, a trap team, and a signal plan: run fingers through hair once the deal was done. That was December 17, 2008. Head constable S Mohan took the 2 lakh outside Central Crime Branch's Greams Road office. Phenolphthalein tests turned both his pant pockets pink. Inspector D C Ruskin stood nearby. Fifteen years and 23 miscellaneous petitions later, a Chennai anti-corruption court has now found Ruskin guilty under Sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. He gets five years' rigorous imprisonment and 2 lakh in fines. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai The bribe wasn't for favours. It was to stop police action in cases registered under various IPC sections for forgery, cheating, and criminal conspiracy. The inspector told the complainant he'd get legal opinion and write off the cases as civil. Ruskin first demanded 20 lakh, then 10 lakh, and finally settled for 2 lakh. His subordinate took the money. The man gave the signal. Vigilance officers stepped in. What followed was not a smooth trial. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Unwelcoming Countries in the World, Ranked BigGlobalTravel Undo The complainant died before cross-examination. The second accused stopped appearing, claiming his wife was ill. The case against him was split. The defence argued it was a setup — engineered by a retired DVAC officer who was allegedly related to the complainant. They produced newspaper clippings, delay charts, and accused the witnesses of bias. But the court wasn't convinced. S Karthikeyan, the official witness who watched the bribe being handed over, never wavered. P Paramasamy, the trap officer, confirmed the sequence. Lab tests matched. Currency notes tallied. Ruskin claimed innocence, said he had a family, and asked for a lighter sentence. The court said no. "Being an offence against society at large, appropriate punishment is necessary." The bribe took minutes. The verdict took 15 years.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- The Hindu
Former police inspector gets five years of rigorous imprisonment for accepting ₹2-lakh bribe in Chennai
A former Inspector of Police attached with the Central Crime Branch (CCB), Chennai, was convicted and sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment for accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh in 2008. The convict D.C. Ruskin worked as Inspector of Police, XIII Team in CCB, Chennai, from November 2007 to December 2008. The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) said a person named T.S. Abineshababu, residing at Anna Nagar, had lodged a complaint that Ruskin had demanded ₹2 lakh as bribe to drop further action and to close cases registered against the complainant and others. Abineshababu then raised a complaint against Ruskin and S. Mohan, a head constable, with the DVAC on December 16, 2008. After registering a case, the officials laid a trap. At 8:05 p.m. on December 17, 2008, Ruskin reiterated his demand for a bribe and directed Abineshababu to hand over the money to Mohan, who then accepted it from the complainant. Upon completing the investigation, a chargesheet was filed before the Special Court for Cases Under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chennai, in 2010. After the conclusion of the trial, the judgment was pronounced on Friday by the Special Court. Ruskin was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment. A fine of ₹2 lakh was also imposed.
