Florida Man Rescues Terrified Cat From Hurricane Ian’s Catastrophic Storm Surge

Hurricane Ian made landfall close to Caya Costa, Florida, as a Class 4 storm packing winds of 150mph. However simply earlier than the eyewall got here washing ashore, battering the state’s southern peninsula with torrential rains and damaging winds, Mike Ross and his mother, Mary Beth, spied a lone feline stranded within the raging storm. Perched atop an air conditioner unit and scared to demise, the cat was pinned in place by the storm surge washing into the world with brutal pressure.

However regardless of the rapidly deteriorating situations there in Bonita Springs, Mike couldn’t depart the orange and white kitty to a watery destiny and braved the harmful surge to earn himself a brand new good friend for all times.

Trapped By Storm Surge

When hurricanes hit, these huge storms have the facility to create a storm surge that’s virtually not possible to think about. You might be standing in a roadway or neighborhood, and inside seconds, water floods the world in an offended rush that doesn’t cease. Anybody caught in that destruction finds themselves in mortal hazard. And that’s the difficulty this poor cat discovered herself in as Hurricane Ian roared into southwest Florida.

However earlier than the waters might sweep the kitty away, Mike and his mother glanced out the window of his father or mother’s “fortress” in opposition to hurricanes and noticed the cat sitting on prime of the elevated air conditioner unit because the storm surge pushed in.

He advised The Washington Put up the cat was “terrified.” In Mike’s thoughts, there was no method he might depart the cat out within the storm, so the longtime Floridian braved the surge and introduced the kitty to security.

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Marybeth Ross, Mike’s mother, captured video of Mike wading by means of the surge to get to the kitty as increasingly more water rushed in, coming in more durable and sooner with each passing second. And fairly conscious of this reality, the apprehensive cat could possibly be seen clinging to Mike’s shoulder as he cradled her tightly to his chest and carried her to the protection of indoors.

Happy with her son, Marybeth might be heard saying, “Take a look at Michael saving the kitty. Awww.”

Mike’s girlfriend Megan shared the video on Twitter, the place it’s been considered greater than 3 million instances. And since this candy cat got here into their life by the hands of a hurricane, the couple named their new feline good friend Ian. However slightly time with Ian revealed that he was really a she, so Ian turned Storm.

Elevating Reduction for These Left in Ian’s Path

Since rescuing Storm from the storm and studying their dwelling was flooded by ten toes of water, Megan and Mike have began a GoFundMe web page to assist increase cash in order that they and others can start to rebuild.

“We’re a younger couple in Naples, FL elevating cash to assist restore our dwelling — which suffered horrible harm — and the properties of others after the devastation seen from Hurricane Ian,” Megan shared.

“In honor of Ian, and all folks and pets affected, we’re donating half of the proceeds raised by this to the Naples Humane Society.”

Storm almost met her finish within the watery grip of nature’s fury. However because of Mike, this good cat has her paws again on dry floor. Mike and Megan are looking for the cat’s household, but when none might be discovered, Storm will discover her without end dwelling with them. And collectively, they’ll rebuild their lives.

URGENT: Assist Pets in Hurricane Ian’s Path

My boyfriend saving a cat from flood waters close to Bonita Seaside. #HurricaneIan #Naples #Bonita #FortMyers pic.twitter.com/BlBC9P1rdy

— Megan Cruz Scavo (@MeganScavo) September 28, 2022

Characteristic Picture: @MeganScavo/Twitter