The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has released new aerial footage of evacuations, flooding and damage to state parks recorded by Texas Game Warden unmanned aircraft systems pilots, the agency said in a July 19 media advisory. The material has been added to the department’s public Flickr account for use by news organizations.
The release marks a shift in the pace of the emergency, which has affected a large portion of the state. No additional rescues or evacuations were performed by Texas Game Wardens as of the agency’s July 18 update, the department said, though wardens continue to respond to the severe weather event and remain a central part of the state’s emergency response.
The department said 17 state parks or state natural areas are now experiencing various impacts from the heavy rains and subsequent flooding, up from 15 reported earlier in the week, and that photographs of those impacts are included in the newly posted material. Park alerts carry the most current information for each property, including area and full park closures, and the agency urged travelers to check those alerts and the Texas Department of Transportation’s Drive Texas map before setting out.
News organizations using the visual assets should credit Texas Game Wardens, the department said, while visuals of state parks should be credited to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Additional assets will be added as they become available.
Texas Game Wardens operate within the department’s Law Enforcement Division and enforce laws related to the conservation and management of natural resources while playing a role in search and rescue during natural disasters. The agency said it will continue to monitor conditions, remain in a heightened state of readiness and issue daily updates after 3:30 p.m. for as long as wardens are involved in response efforts.