As of July 8, the catastrophic flash flood that struck the Texas Hill Country during the July 4 weekend has resulted in at least 109 confirmed deaths, including 28 children, with over 160 individuals still unaccounted for—161 missing in Kerr County alone. The National Weather Service reported the storm dumped 5 to 20 inches of rain across the Guadalupe watershed between July 3 and 4. The river swelled dramatically, rising 26 feet in 45 minutes and cresting near 29 feet—breaking records set in 1987. The death toll has surpassed that of Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
Rescue operations continue despite continued showers, with over 850 rescues and 167 helicopter airlifts reported. Ground teams, boats, drones, and canine units are scouring debris for survivors and victims. City of Kerrville is urging all drone operators to stay grounded after a privately operated drone collided with a rescue helicopter, forcing an emergency landing during flood recovery efforts. The helicopter, part of ongoing search operations, was damaged and is now out of service.
“Temporary Flight Restrictions are not suggestions,” city officials said in a statement. “Flying drones in restricted airspace puts emergency crews and the public at serious risk.” The FAA and local authorities are investigating the incident.
