Sightseers ‘making things worse’ after Texas flood as private drone hits and damages rescue helicopter

KERR COUNTY, TEXAS: As rescue teams continue searching for missing people in the wreckage left behind by the deadly Texas flood, their efforts are being hindered by unexpected obstacles: illegal private drones and swarms of thrill-seeking onlookers.

Authorities have frantically urged outsiders to stay away from the areas ravaged by the catastrophic flooding that began early on the morning of the Fourth of July and drowned much of Texas.

The disastrous flash flooding has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 104 people, including at least 27 young girls from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp tucked along the South Fork of the Guadalupe River, where flood risk was among the highest in the state.

Private drone damages rescue helicopter after Texas floods

Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice issued a public plea on Sunday, June 6, saying, “We know that people want to volunteer, but what we are starting to see is personal drones flying.”

“These personal drones flying is a danger to aircraft, which then risks further operations,” he continued. The Kerrville Police Department doubled down on Rice’s comments.

“Media-operated drones are interfering with official search and rescue drones. There is a no-fly zone in Kerr County for private drones. We need cooperation in this matter. Let our first responders do their jobs,” the department wrote in a Facebook post.

This came as a helicopter assisting with emergency operations made an emergency landing after it was struck by a private drone flying over Kerr County.

The City of Kerrville stated that the helicopter sustained damage in the crash, making the vital piece of emergency response gear inoperable for some time.

Observers hinder search and rescue missions after Texas floods

While drones caused trouble in the air, observers impeded first responders on the ground. The police department reported that their first responders were hampered by heavy traffic, mostly caused by sightseers.

“Our search efforts continue across the county and across the city. Rescue teams worked throughout the night, and ground teams are searching the river corridor. In town, our KPD team is doing the same, as well as responding to calls for service. We are not slowing down,” the department wrote in another post.

“Our first responders were hampered by heavy traffic yesterday, mostly sightseers who are making things worse. If you’re not from here, don’t come here to see flood damage. If you live here, avoid the river corridor so our first responders can do their jobs,”

“Kerrville and Kerr County are still under a Temporary Flight Restriction. This means no drones. They are interfering with our air operations,” the post continued.

More than 850 people have been rescued from the area that was inundated by floodwaters when torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to rise more than 30 feet in the Kerrville area in just two hours last July Fourth.

Internet blasts sightseers and drone operators for hindering search and rescue missions

The reports of sightseers and illegal private drones hindering search and rescue missions have sparked public outrage, with many internet users seeking punishment for the offenders.

"5 years minimum in the pen for the rogue drone operator. A precedent needs to be set!" a person commented under NY Post's article.

"Such collisions might be considered as unfriendly as a bullet. But, there are no laws as of yet implying those drones aren't allowed during weather emergency designated periods of time," the second user slammed. 

"Sightseers? Really? What are they hoping to see? A tiny body floating by so they can post it for likes? Ghouls," the third user blasted.

"Shoot all unauthorized drones out of the sky. Problem solved," the fourth user wrote while a fifth X user commented, "Illegal drone use during emergencies increases risk and disrupts response operations, compounding challenges for rescuers on the ground."

"The collision of a private drone with a rescue helicopter in Kerr County isn’t just reckless—it’s a symptom of systemic failure," one more posted.

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online