Rescue Drones Soar Over Texas & North Carolina Floods—While Hobbyists Watch from the Ground
When disaster strikes, tech takes flight—but not for everyone.
Emergency crews are deploying drones to map flood zones and locate stranded residents across Texas and North Carolina. Meanwhile, recreational operators are grounded by strict airspace restrictions. The irony? Your average crypto degen has more freedom to gamble on memecoins than a drone enthusiast flying a $500 DJI in their own backyard.
Who’s saving lives? First responders using thermal imaging drones to find survivors in submerged neighborhoods. Who’s getting fined? Grandpa Joe trying to film his flooded driveway for insurance claims. The FAA doesn’t care about your ‘right to innovate’ when ATMs are floating down Main Street.
Here’s the kicker: These same bureaucracies will greenlight a SPAC merger for flying taxis before approving open access to disaster airspace. Priorities, people.
Extreme weather and flooding
Flooding began in Central Texas early Friday after intense overnight rainfall caused rivers—including the Guadalupe—to surge by up to 26 feet in just 45 minutes. Despite flood warnings issued by the National Weather Service a day earlier, the most severe flash flooding struck before sunrise, catching many residents off-guard.
Just two days later, Tropical Depression Chantal made landfall in South Carolina on Sunday, bringing torrential rainfall to Central and Eastern North Carolina throughout the day and into Monday. Flash flooding followed as rivers overflowed and overwhelmed infrastructure.
Update on recent flooding in central North Carolina:
⚠️The following counties have declared states of emergency: Alamance, Person, Moore, and Orange
⚠️The State Emergency Response Team is coordinating resources and support to supplement local response
⚠️I-40 has reopened in…
— Governor Josh Stein (@NC_Governor) July 7, 2025
In both states, drones quickly became vital tools for emergency managers. First responders in North Carolina are also deploying drones for situation awareness and damage assessments. Echoing officials in Texas and North Carolina, authorities warned the public against flying drones while first responders complete search and rescue operations.
“Following an emergency event, those that are not actively engaged in the response efforts should not fly personal drones as airspace deconfliction is a safety concern, especially with manned aircraft operating in the incident area,” a North Carolina Emergency Management spokesperson told Decrypt.
Drones operated by the media and others are interfering with rescue operations in Kerr County, per Kerrville Police. It’s unfortunate this needs to be said. pic.twitter.com/BMp2H5kJmB
— Sheriffs' Assoc of Texas (@TXSheriffs) July 6, 2025
The Texas Game Warden echoed the danger unauthorized drones pose to rescue crews and aircraft, urging the public to stay grounded.
“Please do not fly drones over impacted areas and search operations,” the office of the Texas Game Warden wrote on X. “They interfere with drones being used in search efforts and are a safety risk to other emergency services aircraft. We appreciate your understanding as emergency personnel continue their important work.”
