Paul David Meek

Paul David Meek of Topeka, Kansas, for going above and beyond the call of duty as a volunteer EMT. In 2005, Northern Shawnee Country Kansas received over 12 inches of rain in four hours. The area flooded quickly and ruined numerous homes in its wake. At 4:00 a.m., Meek, a volunteer firefighter and EMT for 30 years, went out in his boat to help rescue those stuck in the flood. He walked through five-foot deep water to retrieve two adults and their two children, bringing them to safety before heading back into the floodwaters. He entered a nursing home where he rescued 56 trapped elderly people from the rising waters. After a total of 20 straight hours, Meek’s brave actions resulted in the evacuation of 75 people.




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