Photo Of Hero Rescuing Two Children In Hurricane Harvey Emerges Online

By Mark Pygas

Updated Nov. 18 2019, 2:16 p.m. ET

Source: twitter / Harris County Sheriff's Office

At least eight people are believed to have died as a result of Hurricane Harvey, with a record 30 inches of rain falling on the city of Houston, leaving highways totally submerged by water. The heavy rains are expected to continue into the week, with Harvey set to pick up more water from the Gulf of Mexico before heading inland once again. 

And while many have focused on the devastating impact of the storm, there have been many cases of heroism amid the chaos. One of the photos that has gone viral shows a Harris County Sheriff's Office deputy carrying two children to safety. 

I have an idea for replacing one of those statues... pic.twitter.com/v3zZzb1yFe

— FishingForTruth (@FishBlanc) August 27, 2017

The image of the storm shows Harris County sheriff’s deputy Rick Johnson carrying two small children to safety. The photo was taken by one of his colleagues and shared on the sheriff’s office Twitter account. Johnson is seen calmly walking the two children from their house in suburban Cypress, Texas. 

Johnson later told TIME: 

"I grabbed the kids, and in order to keep the kids focused on happy thoughts given the seriousness of what was going on around us, I told them a couple of light jokes. We joked about swimming, and the water being cold."

The photo has understandably attracted a great deal of praise. 

Many heroes out there today! Thank you all!
This is who we really are America!

— Tin Man 🤖 (@Amalgam65) August 27, 2017

done. pic.twitter.com/ERryrNnTQl

— Stephen 👌🏻 (@SQXCV) August 28, 2017

But that's not the only tale of heroism. KHOU reporter Brandi Smith has been praised for saving a truck driver's life while she was broadcasting live. 

A reporter in Houston spotted a truck driver stuck in the flood. She was able to flag down police who saved his life live on TV. Holy crap. pic.twitter.com/v2nNjxJ12P

— Jessie 🇰🇪 (@JMKTV) August 27, 2017

As were citizens who responded to officials asking anyone with a boat to help search for anyone in trouble. 

Reporter: What are u gonna do?

Citizen with boat: I'm gonna try to save some lives. 🇺🇸#Harvey #HurricaneHarvey pic.twitter.com/5utv0u0fOe

— Scott Dworkin (@funder) August 27, 2017

Crystal jaramillo and Trey Jones of Texas City say they've rescued about 22 people in their kayak. #harvey pic.twitter.com/i4J8pEiPLu

— Marissa Barnett (@marissambarnett) August 27, 2017

This is #Houston at its finest. John Griggs kayaked & helped 22 people to drier ground. 👏🏻 #HoustonStrong #ABC13 #Harvey #Texas pic.twitter.com/jZxdonIqO1

— Steve Campion (@SteveABC13) August 27, 2017

A group of people were able to form a human chain to save a man stranded in deep water. 

And then you see videos like this that restore your faith in humanity & remind you what America's all about #Harvey pic.twitter.com/tAy6eBpVCt

— Scott Dworkin (@funder) August 27, 2017

And of course, the emergency services and army personnel who have been risking their lives. 

Houston SWAT officer carries mother and her 13-month-old son to safety amid rising floodwaters from #Harvey https://t.co/79nzzta36O pic.twitter.com/yYezlzSMxY

— ABC News (@ABC) August 27, 2017

Daryl Hudeck, a Houston Police SWAT officer, is seen carrying Catherine Pham and her 13-month-old son Aiden. 

Catherine’s husband, Troy, said to the Dallas Morning News: 

 “We were waiting for daylight to try to get out, but by that point the water kept rising and rising and it was unsafe to even try to get out [by truck],” Troy said by phone on Monday. It wasn’t going to be possible for them to leave without help."Then, they heard helicopters and voices. Troy decided to see whether the sounds were rescue crews.
Troy took his kayak about 400 yards down the street, where he  found members of the Houston SWAT team and a volunteer civilian and son helping people get out of the Meyerland neighborhood. The crew of six used their motorized boat to help ferry the family from their home."

This policeman worked countless hours helping victims of Hurricane Harvey until he passed out from exhaustion. from pics

#Texas, we will make it through this. Together with first responders & rescue teams, we'll do whatever it takes. #TexansServingTexas #Harvey pic.twitter.com/LNtJK53FfR

— Texas Military Dept (@TXMilitary) August 27, 2017

#USCG crews continue working to rescue victims of the aftermath of #HurricaneHarvey. #Harvey pic.twitter.com/ywcdLoh7GP

— U.S. Coast Guard (@USCG) August 27, 2017

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pbXSramam6Ses7p6wqikaKyimrultc2gZmtoYWx8cYSOa3BoknGun3OSjqGcq6ddp7K0r9SipaBlpKy8bq%2FHoqOdqpWjeqnB0augnJmemnqprdGvnLI%3D