A New Jersey man is being hailed a hero for his role in saving 165 people from the deadly Texas flooding.

Scott Ruskan, a U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer and petty officer from Oxford Township in Warren County, completed his first rescue mission.

Ruskan credits the flight crew for flying through dangerous conditions to get them as fast as possible to those in need.

Heavy rains drenched Central Texas, causing the Guadalupe River to rise more than 20 feet and leaving people with little time to escape. That flash flooding has left at least 80 people dead. The Texas governor says dozens more are missing. A summer camp near the river confirmed this morning that 27 campers and counselors have died.