Case Studies: Texas Hill Country Flood

Published: 10/28/2025

Case Study 3: July 2025 Texas Hill Country Flood

On July 4, 2025, heavy rainfall in central Texas caused flooding in the Hill Country region, resulting in a massive river flood. Rivers rose dozens of feet above normal levels in less than an hour. This flood impacted a young girl's summer camp, called Camp Mystic, where, unfortunately, many were killed or went missing amid the flood. According to KXAN news, over 135 people were confirmed dead or missing by the end of the rainstorm.

Emergency declarations were made, and search and rescue operations led by first responders went out to search for missing kids lost from the camp, as well as nearby homeowners. According to the San Antonio Express News, an MQ-9 Reaper military drone was used and deployed by the Texas Military Department to provide aerial surveillance, and real-time imagery and assessment of damages were made.

This drone helped search flood-impacted areas, especially those on the ground that were inaccessible due to debris and blocked roads, making them difficult to reach. Drone usage was effective in supporting mapping, damage assessment, and coordination. The imagery from the drones helped identify debris fields and damage extents. This allowed ground teams to deploy resources more efficiently. In addition, drone operations supplemented the helicopter, boat, and ground teams, enabling them to perform their jobs effectively and efficiently. This was a good on-ramp for drone usage; however, in my opinion, this was not enough.

Imagine if, in addition to the military-grade drone, a coordinated fleet of specialized search and rescue drones, such as those offered by Eagle Eye, had been deployed alongside first responders. These drones could have rapidly scanned flooded areas using thermal imaging and advanced sensors to locate survivors trapped by rising waters, transmitting their precise locations to rescue teams. By contracting customizable drones tailored for flood response, authorities could have significantly increased the speed and efficiency of search efforts, potentially reducing the number of lives lost and enabling faster reunification of families with their loved ones.