Rescue Drones Deployed Amid Texas, North Carolina Floods—Hobbyists Disrupt Operations

Emergency responders in Texas and North Carolina are leveraging professional and military-grade drones equipped with infrared and real-time video capabilities to navigate flood zones, locate stranded victims, and coordinate rescue efforts. In Texas, MQ-9 Reapers operated at 18,000 feet to assist in locating missing individuals, including victims from Camp Mystic, where 27 children and counselors perished.

Unauthorized drone activity by hobbyists has disrupted critical operations, prompting the FAA to impose no-fly zones. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice emphasized the risks posed by personal drones, which interfere with official aircraft and jeopardize rescue missions. Only cleared operators are permitted to fly during emergencies to ensure safety and operational efficiency.