Western Kentucky faced catastrophic flooding after days of steady rainfall.
The destruction stretched across the region, leaving homes damaged, communities shaken, and countless families dealing with loss.
Even in the middle of that turmoil, quiet acts of bravery and kindness emerged, proof that compassion does not wash away easily.
One of those moments unfolded in Paducah, a city that endured some of the heaviest impacts.
Taylor Colley, Josh Newsome, and Micah Joiner, linemen with Jackson Purchase Energy Corporation, had been sent out to shut off power to electrical lines swallowed by floodwater.
Traveling by boat through the submerged area, they caught sight of something odd enough to make them pause.
A Small Life Holding On
Balanced on a floating log was a tiny animal, trembling and overwhelmed.
As the linemen eased closer, they recognized a wild rabbit clinging to the wood, fighting to stay above the fast-moving water.
He looked as though he had given up expecting anyone to find him.
Colley and his team understood immediately that the situation was urgent. The current moved quickly, and the rabbit had little time left.
“That’s not at all what you expect to see on a floating log in the water. We knew the chances of him surviving were very bleak if we didn’t help him,” Colley told The Dodo.
Although frightened, he did not try to flee as they neared, almost as if he recognized that help had reached him at last.
Returned To Dry Land
They lifted him gently from the shifting log and settled him into the boat. Once inside, his rigid posture softened, the fear slowly melting as he sensed he was safe.
The crew steered toward the nearest patch of dry ground and placed him down with care.
He bounded off with renewed energy, as if grateful that someone had stepped in when he had nowhere left to turn.
For the linemen, offering that help felt instinctive.
“We simply knew we couldn’t pass by him without trying to save him. We were all thankful that, between our own safety, teamwork and good morals, we were able to give the rabbit a chance to have a less ‘dampened’ future,” Colley added.
Moments like this remind people how essential it is to act when any living creature is in danger, no matter its size.
Gratitude goes out to every rescue team and compassionate individual aiding others through this natural disaster. Your kindness matters deeply.