Hurricane Ian hit the Keys, Florida, as a Category 4 storm with 250 mph (ca. 402 km/h) winds. Conditions in Bonita Springs were deteriorating rapidly, with more water coming in. But trapped in the storm was a cat. Mike Ross noticed a lonely cat. Sitting on an air conditioner, scared to death, the cat was pinned in place by the storm hitting the area with brutal force.
Marybeth Ross, Mike’s mom, captured on video Mike wading through the wave to get to the kitten as more and more water came in, more complex and faster by the second. And fully aware of this fact, the worried cat could be seen clinging to Mike’s shoulder as he held her tightly to his chest and carried her to the safety of home.
And because this sweet cat came into their lives through the hurricane, they named him Ian. And he had a character like Storm. Later they saw it.
Mike’s girlfriend Megan shared the video on Twitter, which has been viewed more than 3 million times.
After they saved Storm from the hurricane and discovered their house was inundated with ten feet of water, Megan and Mike started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money so they and others could begin rebuilding.
“We are a young couple in Naples, Florida, raising money to help rebuild our home – which suffered horrific damage – and the homes of others after the devastation caused by Hurricane Jan,” said Megan, Mike’s girlfriend.
In the storm, the cat nearly perished at the hands of nature’s fury. But thanks to Mike, this cat’s paws could touch the dry ground again. Mike and Megan are searching for the cat’s family, but if they don’t discover her, Storm will stay in their home. And they will go on to rebuild their lives together.
My boyfriend is saving a cat from flood waters near Bonita Beach. #HurricaneIan #Naples #Bonita #FortMyers pic.twitter.com/BlBC9P1rdy
— Megan Cruz Scavo (@MeganScavo) September 28, 2022
Have you ever helped an animal in need during a natural disaster?
