Florida mom calls 911 as floodwaters trap her family and 3 dogs. Then 2 teenage neighbors step in: ‘The community came together and saved us’

A Florida mother and her 11-year-old son were forced to spend hours on their kitchen counter as floodwaters filled their home. With three dogs alongside them and no clear way to get out, Brittany Grant tried calling 911 for help. 

Grant’s home in Palm Bay, Florida, was flooded on Tuesday following heavy rainfall across the area. As the water continued rising, she and her son climbed onto the kitchen counter to stay above it. Grant called 911 three times, but was told emergency resources were unavailable because of the flooding.

She eventually turned to Facebook to ask for help. Her post caught the attention of Stephanie Fanguy, a neighbor who alerted her two teenage sons, Jonah and Lucas Marshall. The brothers decided to head to Grant’s home, bringing a borrowed kayak and an inflatable paddleboard to navigate the flooded streets.

Teen brothers use kayak and paddleboard to reach stranded family

Jonah, 15, borrowed a neighbor’s kayak, while his 17-year-old brother Lucas brought his paddleboard. The two teenagers, accompanied by another neighbor, made their way to Grant’s home.

The rescue was not exactly a typical neighborhood errand. Grant, her son, and their three dogs all needed to get out of the flooded property. Lucas helped the 11-year-old boy first and tried to keep him calm by asking about his name and school according to Click Orlando. “This is a weird day, isn’t it?” Lucas reportedly told the boy during the rescue.

The brothers eventually managed to bring Grant, her son, and all three dogs to safety. Jonah explained that helping the family was an immediate decision after learning they were in danger. “Because they needed help and they were in trouble and danger, so just didn’t think about it and just went to help them,” he shared.

Grant was grateful for the neighbors who responded to her plea, especially since she had not expected the people who came to help to be teenagers. “The community came together and saved us,” she said. “If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know how we would have gotten out.”

Palm Bay flooding leaves family temporarily displaced

The rescue happened as heavy rainfall caused flooding across Brevard County, leaving roads submerged and making it difficult for emergency crews to reach residents. Grant and her son are now staying with a friend after leaving their flooded home. Although the family made it out safely, the property sustained water damage.

Grant said the experience restored her faith in humanity, thanking the neighbors who helped her family and their three dogs escape.

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