Responders save beleaguered cat from storm drain | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

First responders hold a kitten rescued from a storm drain on Crill Avenue that firefighters climbed into Sunday night.
Positively Putnam FL

Firefighters rescued and found a home for a kitten Sunday night after a concerned resident reported hearing “meowing” from a Palatka storm drain, authorities said.

Jacob Post, a firefighter with Palatka’s Station 5 Southwest Volunteer Fire Department, said a resident was leaving a store on Crill Avenue when they heard the sounds. After the person alerted authorities, rescue officials immediately drove to the scene, opened the storm drain and lowered a roof ladder, Post said.

The firefighter said a crew member climbed into the drain and crawled “10 to 15 feet” before finding the kitten that was roughly 6 weeks old.

“As crazy as it sounds, it was a legitimate confined space rescue,” Post said.

The fire department celebrated the staff’s efforts on social media.

“The kitten has been saved!! Thank you to Allyson Ash & Lt. (Chelsea) Romanowiz for braving the storm drain,” the station wrote.

Firefighters bought milk and cat food at Walmart, Post said. Rescue personnel Alex and Melinda Santana offered to adopt the kitten, whom they named “Penny,” that night. Post said Penny is doing well.

“He was bopping around this morning, just having a ball,” he said.