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Saturday, September 13, 2008 • 6:00 AM • 
Check Out This Amazing Video of a Flood Victim Being Rescued! RT @TheEllenShow
You won’t believe this video of flood victim Stephanie Delabio and her 2-year-old daughter Amelia being rescued from their sinking car by Good Samaritan David Rhoades!
Watch as Ellen surprises David with an all-expenses paid cruise -- and stuns Stephanie with a brand new car!
Next Story: Ellen's Guest Jennie Garth Just Won't Listen!
Arizona does have a Stupid Motorist Law but Stephanie did not break the law. The law states a "motorist who drives around barricades to enter a flooded stretch of roadway may be charged for the cost of his/her rescue". No barricades were in place. Thank goodness that David was there and that everyone is safe. Ellen does it again!
While I'm very happy this woman and her child were saved from a very bad situation, I can understand why some people are a bit annoyed with the new car. IN ARIZONA, THERE ARE WARNINGS ON THE NEWS/TV CONSTANTLY, DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, WARNING MOTORISTS TO NEVER ENTER A FLOODED AREA, EVER. SERIOUSLY, IT'S ON TV ALL THE TIME. So many from Arizona, reading this, feel like she should have known better, esp the part where she admits seeing trucks going through and she's in a small compact car. All that said though, I found myself in an almost similar situation here in Tucson during a strong thunderstorm during what we call our "monsoon" season. The main street I was driving on was not flooded at all but then I turned onto a residential side street, and suddenly(remember, it's dark) found myself entering a wash(good sized dip in the road) and I'm 1/2 way in, and suddenly I realize, holy cow this is deeper than I thought and by then it's really too late to back up. I was lucky and got through but I will never ever do it again and will never enter a "big puddle" regardless of how it looks! It was scary. Bottom line: she made an error in judgement, she knows it, feels dumb and embarrassed I'm sure and the primary focus was this terrific guy who helped her and her daughter. I think it's sweet that Ellen gave her a new car. Face it folks: we've all made errors in judgement-no one is perfect! Let's remember that. :-)
Idiots? Ha ha ha. Wow. This is so funny!
Jealous?! I think not. That is not the point. The point is - why take any risk when there is a child involved?
Getting to work on time or a child's life?
I don't dislike Ellen or any member of her staff.
I just think they could have found a more deserving person to reward and start off the season.
I realize it's tempting to chide her for putting herself and her daughter in danger. But unless you've been caught in a flash flood, don't make any assumptions about how you'd react. Water levels can change in an instant, and it's nearly impossible to gauge whether a road is safe or dangerous. True, you should never drive onto a road where water has pooled -- but you should also never go outdoors when thunder is audible -- point being, people underestimate weather all the time and rarely pay such a high price.
This woman didn't go on Ellen's show for her own gain -- she went on to publicly thank the man who risked his life to save her. And he did so WITHOUT judging her actions, which is what makes him a hero. Props to Ellen for helping out a victim and rewarding a hero.
Gerrie, for someone it is too difficult to be nice to others. Let us hope that women may live free and say what they want and will have equal rights all over the world! So we should not be so hard to each other, we should stand together. In my youth I had a big idol: Joan Baez! She still sings and fights.
Buenos dias Ellen y Portia:
Siempre les he escrito y he tenido oportunidad de ver sus vidas por medio de la internet. Ustdes estan haciendo historia en la Televisión y se que no les fue fácil en la vida aceptar su preferencia sexual pero en todos los videos que he visto se les ve bien felices sigan asi vivan su vida que la vida es una sola que uno vive. Me encantan las ahorita acabo de ver el video donde Ellen le dice a la audencia de su show que se casa y veo que suspira como diciendo "Lo dije" y vi la felicidad de Portia. Muchas Feliciades y cuanto me gustaria poderme comunicarme con ustedes pero ustedes hablan ingles y yo hablo español pues creo que yo debo aprender el idioma y ustedes un poco de español ya que tienen amigos en la red de todo el mundo que hablamos español; se que no es fácil aprender un nuevo idioma ya que para mi no es fácil intentar aprender el idioma. Ellen te he visto en las fotos que has presentado cuando eras adolecente y te digo que usted es como el VINO ENTRE MAS MAYOR MEJOR...Que es como el vino entre más añejo mucho mejor. Les deseo toda la felicidad del mundo. Otro dia escribire.
That was cool!!! I like it when people save others!
I saved my dog once for falling over the edge into some blackberry bushes. I didn't even think.
I just jumped over the edge too!!! I got cuts but I got my dog too! It was worth it.
You don't think in situations like that. You just do it!
My sister couldn't believe I just jumped over the edge. After I didn't believe I did either.. but I'd do it again in a heart beat!
Shout out to Kim and you other jealous idiots!
I don't think Ellen or her 'staff' need or care about being commended for being kind. If she called you up and apologized to you and then gave you a car.....you'd take it! Who you kidding?!!! Get over it.
I usually commend Ellen in all the wonderful things she does for people who deserve it. Ellen disappointed me on this one though, I can't believe she would give someone a car after the stupid thing she did with having her 2 year with her and her trying to get to work in a flash flood situation. Yes there were trucks crossing but we all know that trucks are higher off the ground than a car is. What is that saying "when in doubt don't do it", well my thing is your endangering your child and you were apparently sitting there watching to see if cars were crossing so you had some doubt. Work is not as important as keeping your child safe.
just wanted to say ellen you do such nice things on your show for people the trip and the new car was wonderful of you to give your show is great my brother and i catch it when ever we can and we loved the wedding photos(lol)
You look at this mom's face - she is still kicking herself for this happening, and I still say, it can happen to anyone so fast. I live on the east coast, I am not familiar with the Phoenix area's "motorist" warnings during flooding. But isn't this story about a great guy risking everything to do something for this woman and her child? Is the CAR all some people are seeing in this story? The young mom didn't ask for it, Ellen gave it to her. The young mom, by her reactions in this video, is only too aware of how close they came to dying. You see her arm around David's shoulders, his generosity shining through, the baby girl over and over saying his name - isn't this a very happy ending in this f'ed world? I'd say so. Change your corner of the world like David has, and like Stephanie, this young mom, certainly will. Buy grocieries for someone in crisis, say hi, how are ya? to a total stranger (I do, people joke about how "friendly" I am, maybe downright annoying, but I sure see some great smiles in return and that makes MY day so cool). I think that's Ellen's idea here with the car and with David's cruise. As my USCG son says, "AWESOME!"
So many people are good, and we never hear that.. we only hear the bad....congrats on a Hero being honored ! wahoo
Ellen I'm so dissapointed in you. I am a mom that wonders how i can even get my kid to school. Let alone to his best friends house during a hurricane!
I too am thankful you and your daughter survived during that frighting time. David is a hero. Your daughter is a delight and a joy.
Sending best wishes from the UK
First off I would like to say Stephanie is a dear friend of mine. Things like this happened. What you didn't see is everyone else going through the road too. And for all you haters who live in Phoenix talking about the stupid motorist law, then you should KNOW it's only illegal is POSTED AREAS! Which is why she DIDN'T get a ticket!!!!
She has been through alot, and is a wonderful person and mother. I can not believe that you people would be so judgemental. You are not her, nor were you in her situation. I am thankful she is alive. And if you KNEW Stepahnie, the way I know Stephanie, she would NEVER do anything intentionally to harm her child! It's easy to say what you would or wouldn't do in hindsight NOW. You people should be ashamed of yourself for the name calling and hating. I would be embarrassed to be your friend...
The reason that this was caught on live T.V. was because the news station was filming the "stupid motorists" that were going through the wash when they should not be. There is a law against doing that here in Phoenix and so she was breaking the law. I can see why rewarding someone for breaking the law would upset people. It's incredible how often we are warned against doing this and still some people think that they can make it despite being told over and over and over again not to.
I'm so thankful that this man was there to help what a great guy. He really deserves to be rewarded for his actions. Thanks for sharing his heroic story.
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I think its sad how people on this message board have no knowledge of background information in this situation. I have known Stephanie since the 2nd grade, and we are great friends. Does that mean I am partial to her side of the story? No, that simply means that I know the WHOLE STORY. Stephanie is one of the hardest working, giving, caring, patient selfless people I have ever known. She is a newly single mother and puts everyone and everything before herself. She is a full time student majoring in Speech Pathology, on top of working full time and raising a beautiful child. I too live in Mesa, Arizona where this occured, and she will not be charged with the new law due to that section pertaining to a lack of signs. What you don't know is that people drive through situations like this all the time during our semi-rainy season, and they seemed to have "neglected to show" the other vehicles driving through before her. Steph was only in a few inches of water before her car completely died, leaving her stranded and at the mercy of the rushing water. Mountain View road and Southern is a rural area and I thank god everyday that he kept my friend and her wonderful daughter safe. Was it the best choice she could have gone with? No. Accidents happen, and for a stranger to question Stephanie's abilities as a mother is completely crazy. CPS has greater problematic cases than a young mother in an accident. Stephanie and her family, decided to go on the show because of David Rhodes, the man who saved Amelia and Stephanie. Because Mr. Rhodes needed to be celebrated for his actions! She did not go on the show to take a hand out, and called me completely blown away that she had been given a vehicle. So before you try to talk about someones ability to be a good parent, or a safe motorist, consider the situation and conditions you do not know. I am sure many are just jealous that she caught such a huge break, or that something good resulted after something bad. We won't be thinking of all the people that are trying to judge her because of an ACCIDENT. Tonight, when we go to pick up her new SUV at the GMC dealer down the street we will be thinking of how thankful we are for her safety. We will also be thinking of how greatful we are to such a giving production team such as Ellen's. Lastly, we will be satisfied in knowing that God works in mysterious ways, and how there is always a positive in every situation, or a lesson learned. In this case it just happened to be a new vehicle. :) I can't think of a more deserving person.
Posted by asu laura | September 17, 2008 1:36 PM