Florida man saves cat as Hurricane Ian’s waters rise

Florida man saves cat as Hurricane Ian’s waters rise

A Florida male is currently being celebrated just after he saved a stranded cat from the wrath of Hurricane Ian.

A fearful-searching cat with orange and white fur sat hovering atop a mounted air conditioning device though a continual stream of h2o rushed beneath it. Mike Ross, 29, noticed the frightened feline from a window, and quickly ran outside the house.

Ross, who life in Bonita Springs in southwest Florida, had evacuated to his parents’ spot close by to shelter from the storm. His residence was “10 feet underwater,” and his mom and dad have a “fortress” developed to weather conditions hurricanes, he stated.

As he appeared exterior, he was shocked to see a cat sitting down there all by itself. He couldn’t fathom leaving it to fend for alone.

This cat was found stranded around Bonita Seaside, Fla. (Online video: Marybeth Ross)

“The storm surge had rushed up rather a little bit at that issue,” Ross recalled, including that the incident took location Wednesday afternoon all-around 2 p.m., soon ahead of the Class 4 hurricane made landfall in southwest Florida with winds of 15o mph.

Obtaining lived in the space all his life, he’s acquainted with hurricanes, but stated this 1 is “absolutely terrible.”

The cat, Ross said, appeared “terrified.”

Knee-deep in floodwater, Ross trudged towards the cat, pushing against the impressive current. After he bought near adequate, he scooped up the deserted animal and held it tightly against his upper body as he introduced it to security.

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Ross’s mother, Marybeth Ross, captured the rescue on digital camera. In the track record of the video, she is heard remarking: “Look at Michael conserving the kitty. Awww.”

Ross’s girlfriend shared the clip on Twitter, and the net immediately took notice. The video has been viewed extra than 1.1 million situations, and breathless comments have poured in.

“Absolute hero. Marry that male. Hope you all stay secure,” a person individual commented.

“I’m bawling my eyes out,” a further wrote.

“I’m sorry, Megan, but he is everyone’s boyfriend now,” an individual tweeted.

Individuals also shared identical cat rescue tales: “Hurricane cats are an outdated Florida custom. We picked ours up a few many years ago throughout Irma. Simply cannot picture this property without the Tripod,” one person commented, sharing a photo of a cat.

Though most individuals praised Ross’s rescue energy (the most widespread remark is: “Marry him.”), others expressed worry for the lots of animals who could not make it out of the storm alive.

“This kitty was saved, but I daren’t consider of how several other individuals will not be,” one particular man or woman tweeted. “It breaks my heart.”

Ross, who works as a consultant at a software package business, reported he shares the very same anxiety. Continue to, he’s relieved that at least a single stranded pet is now risk-free and seem.

The cat is presently hunkering down with Ross and his loved ones, and the prepare is to keep it if they are not able to locate its entrepreneurs.

In the meantime, his newfound furry mate has a roof more than its head and a loving residence.

Most importantly, the cat “looks healthy,” Ross reported.

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