Port St. Lucie, Fla. – On Monday morning a high‑school freshman named Noah John found himself swimming through chest‑deep floodwater after his school bus left him at a flooded stop. The incident, captured on a video that quickly went viral, has sparked worry among parents and criticism of the St. Lucie School District’s handling of the sudden storm.
Student describes the dangerous walk home
“I’m scared; I just wanted to get out of the water,” Noah said in the video. “I was swimming. It got way deeper to my chest when I hit the ditch.” He explained that the water rose up to the bus steps, and the driver asked, “Do you want to get dropped off here?” Noah replied, “Sure,” before stepping into the rising water.
Family reaction and health concerns
Noah’s father, Romeo John, expressed shock at the footage. “I went crazy the first time, because when he left early morning, 6 o’clock, we didn’t know there was going to be a storm,” he said. Since the incident, Romeo has noted that his son has seemed unusually drowsy, adding, “My son right now, he shrugs.” He also criticized the district for what he called poor communication during the flooding, saying he is grateful the video went viral so the whole country can see what happened.
Witness account
Martina Elieson, who filmed the swim, said she felt her heart sink when she saw the children get off the bus. “I’m disabled, but if he had gone down, I would’ve thrown my phone and went,” she said, describing the fear she felt watching Noah struggle through the water.
District response
Superintendent Jon Prince held a news conference Tuesday to apologize to parents. He said the decision to keep schools open on Monday was based on information from the Emergency Operations Center and the National Weather Service. Prince called the event “an unpredicted and unprecedented once‑in‑a‑century event for our community.” When asked for a follow‑up interview, his office said he was unavailable.
Community concerns
The incident highlights the challenges school districts face when severe weather strikes unexpectedly. Parents in the area are calling for clearer communication protocols and safer transportation plans during future storms. Local officials have not yet announced any changes to bus routing or drop‑off procedures, but the district says it will review its emergency response policies.
What’s next?
Port St. Lucie residents are urged to stay informed about weather alerts and to follow guidance from local emergency management. The school district has asked families to report any safety concerns directly to the office and to monitor updates on its website and social‑media channels.
Original reporting: WLKY Louisville — read the source article.
