On July 4, 2025, torrential rain triggered catastrophic flash flooding across Central Texas’s Hill Country, with Kerr County and the area surrounding the Guadalupe River hit especially hard. In a matter of hours, the river surged more than 20 feet, sweeping away homes, vehicles, and even campers from Camp Mystic. The flooding was made even more severe by the region’s prolonged drought, which had left the soil too dry and compacted to absorb the sudden deluge.

Instead of soaking into the ground, the rainwater ran off rapidly into the Guadalupe River, fueling its dramatic and deadly rise. The disaster claimed at least 145 lives, left many others injured or missing, and displaced hundreds. As rescue teams mobilized to search the flood-ravaged region, drones quickly proved invaluable in both the immediate response and the ongoing recovery efforts.

In the days following the flood, drones played a central role in search and recovery operations, providing aerial visibility that was impossible to achieve from the ground. Two key contributors were Heal-Corp and LA Drone Services. Based in Florida and Texas, Heal-Corp is a nonprofit disaster response organization that specializes in rapid deployment and regularly supports emergency services with both technology and trained volunteers. LA Drone Services, a civilian operation, focuses on aerial mapping and situational awareness and has earned a reputation for collaborating with first responders during wildfires, floods, and search missions. Both groups relied on skilled pilots and advanced drone platforms to deliver real-time data that improved rescue outcomes.

Heal-Corp deployed two DJI Mavic 30T drones along a 40-mile stretch of the Guadalupe River. The DJI Mavic 30T is a mid-sized quadcopter designed for emergency operations. It can hover for 35 to 40 minutes and captures high-resolution imagery along with thermal data that can reveal victims hidden under debris or obscured by vegetation.

The drones were equipped with both RGB and thermal cameras and operated using DroneSense software to conduct precise grid searches. According to Heal-Corp President Larry Mynar, “We put our drones up and we were flying grids.” He emphasized the camera’s clarity by adding, “From 200 foot [sic] you can read the writing on a 16-ounce Coke bottle. That’s the effectiveness of the camera,” he said. “And then we have the DroneSense software so that several people can have their eyes on there and they’re watching what’s going on at the time.”

Jordy Marks, a civilian Part 107-certified pilot affiliated with LA Drone Services, flew missions near Comfort, Texas, an area severely impacted by the flooding. Marks used aerial video feeds to help guide ground crews through hazardous terrain, avoiding waterlogged zones and navigating around debris. “We can tell them exactly how to get to the area because there’s debris everywhere,” Marks said. “Our drones, they have search and rescue capabilities like thermal imaging, lidar, and night vision, and 160X zoom.” His drone work helped save time, reduced risk for responders, and ensured that resources were deployed efficiently in the areas where they were needed most.

Now that active search and rescue missions are winding down, drones are being repurposed for post-flood assessment and cleanup coordination. Using the same high-resolution cameras and flight planning tools deployed during the emergency, drone pilots are capturing aerial imagery to evaluate damage to buildings, roads, and utility infrastructure. These visuals are also being used to monitor riverbank erosion, detect chemical or sewage contamination, and help prioritize debris removal. Heal-Corp has even begun exploring the use of larger drones for transporting supplies across damaged zones, a concept that may become an integral part of future disaster logistics.

Traditionally, such operations were carried out by manned aircraft like helicopters and small planes, with drones serving as supplementary tools. However, the high cost and safety risks associated with manned flights, combined with major advances in drone technology, have led to drones becoming essential for search, rescue, assessment, and recovery. Thanks to their real-time imaging capabilities, maneuverability, and ability to operate in hazardous conditions, drones provided critical support to teams on the ground. As the focus shifts from emergency response to long-term recovery, organizations like Heal-Corp and LA Drone Services continue to show how drones can help restore communities more quickly and safely.

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