Military drone controlled in Houston helping search and rescue in Hill Country floods

AUSTIN, Texas — The skies have proved to be an important piece of the rescue efforts in Kerrville and along the Guadalupe River after catastrophic floods left 68 people dead and dozens missing as of Sunday afternoon.

Major General Thomas M. Suelzer with the Texas National Guard said a remotely piloted aircraft, or drone, was launched out of Houston Sunday to help with rescue and recovery. The MQ-9 Reaper provides reconnaissance to the search and rescue teams. 

Gen. Suelzer said the drone took off out of Houston, flew over the Gulf of America and reached 18,000 feet to get to Kerr County.

The general thanked the Federal Aviation Administration for a special temporary flight restriction that allowed the drone to get straight to work.

“The FAA granted a temporary flight restricted area through a lower altitude, which allowed our aircraft to safely transit across Texas and operate in the Kerr County area,” Gen. Suelzer told reporters at a news conference Sunday afternoon.

The military deployment includes 230 service members, eight helicopters and high-profile vehicles that have been used in evacuations.

Gen. Suelzer said they have made 366 rescues or evacuations by air and 159 by ground.