Reporter Covering Storm Damage In Florida Hears Cries In The Rubble, Then A Furry Face Pops Out

Ryan Bass, a national reporter for NewsNation, had been living and breathing storm coverage for weeks.

He’d reported through wind and rain, and by the time Hurricane Milton passed, he had seen more than enough devastation.

But one day, something unexpected cut through the post-hurricane noise in Palmetto Beach in Florida.

Bass was setting up for a live shot with his photographer near a building that’s practically been ripped in half, when he heard soft meows.

It was such a tiny sound compared to everything else, barely louder than the hum of nearby generators, but it stopped him in his tracks.

Curious and a little worried, Bass followed the sound toward the debris, as he shared in an interview:

“I was a little worried because that building, the entire front of that building, had been torn off from the hurricane. I was worried when I first heard the meowing that there was an animal stuck under there.”

Then suddenly, a little head popped out of the wreckage like some kind of post-storm miracle.

Out came a gorgeous tortoiseshell cat, mocha-colored and full of life. She looked around for a second, then casually walked over to Bass.

She was a little cautious at first, but it didn’t take long for her to start purring and weaving around his legs, like she already knew he was a friend, as Bass shared:

“[She] just kind of pokes [her] head out, and [she] was super sweet… [She] came up and started purring and kind of rubbing on my legs.”

You could tell that this kitty was strong. Who knows what she went through during the storm, but there she was, alive, unhurt, and sweet as ever.

Bass nicknamed her Milton, after the storm she clearly conquered, and gave her some well-deserved love before going live.

While he was on camera, Milton made her grand TV debut by strutting into the frame just as Bass was wrapping up. She really knew how to make an entrance.

And that was just the beginning of her rise to fame.

Bass posted her photo on social media, and suddenly, the world wanted to know more about this little survivor. Messages poured in. People wanted to adopt her, to hear her story, to cheer her on.

But as it turned out, Milton already had someone watching out for her.

The building she was found near belonged to a family that ran a local business there. One of the workers, Dana, and her family quickly bonded with the charming cat.

Milton just walked up to them like she belonged, and honestly, she kind of did.

They brought her inside, gave her food, and before long, realized they didn’t want to say goodbye.

Bass had started fielding adoption requests, but Dana sent him a message that made his heart melt: they were already in love with her and wanted to keep her.

That was it. Milton had found her forever home.

Now, while the family’s busy picking up the pieces and rebuilding everything, Milton’s right there with them, offering cuddles, comfort, and just the right amount of sweetness.

And for Bass, who just happened to be in the right place at the right time, it’s a moment he won’t forget, as he shared:

“It’s really a heartwarming and happy ending that we were able to find this cat in the rubble of their building, and that they’ve decided they want to keep her. I’m really glad they got attached to her.”

Honestly? So are we.