Texas Game Wardens flew four missions on the morning of July 17 to deliver food and supplies to camps in the Kerr County area that remained cut off by high water, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said in a July 17 media advisory. The campers are safe, the agency said, but impassable roads had temporarily prevented normal deliveries from reaching them.
The airlifts are part of a broader state emergency response to a severe weather event and flooding affecting a large portion of Texas. Texas Game Wardens, who operate within the department’s Law Enforcement Division, play a central role in search and rescue during natural disasters alongside local, state and federal partners.
According to the advisory, wardens have responded to numerous calls for service involving residents needing rescue and evacuation from flooded homes, vehicles submerged in floodwater and vehicles swept off roadways. Those responses have been conducted by boat, vehicle and helicopter, with support from unmanned aircraft systems pilots. Aviation assets are also working with local and state agencies to evaluate roadways and infrastructure, and wardens are completing welfare checks for individuals who have elected to shelter in place.
Over the course of the response, the department said wardens had been deployed to Uvalde, Medina, Kerr, Bandera, Real, Val Verde, Kimble, Comal and Edwards counties, a list the agency noted is subject to change. As of 3 p.m. July 17, Texas Game Wardens had recorded 147 rescues, 89 evacuations and five pets or animals evacuated. The department cautioned that those figures cover its own personnel only and that the overall response is a joint effort among many agencies.
Fifteen state parks or state natural areas are experiencing various impacts from the heavy rains and subsequent flooding, according to the department, which urged travelers to check park alerts and the Texas Department of Transportation’s Drive Texas map before setting out. The agency said it will remain in a heightened state of readiness and will issue daily updates for as long as Texas Game Wardens are involved in response efforts.