State-of-the-art AI technology deployed in Texas to locate the 170 individuals who have gone missing due to flooding.
In the aftermath of the devastating floods that struck Texas Hill Country in July 2025, the integration of advanced technology, specifically artificial intelligence (AI) and sonar systems, has significantly enhanced search and rescue efforts. The disaster, which claimed at least 121 lives, including 36 children, has been the largest search operation in Texas since Hurricane Harvey.
The epicentre of the human tragedy is Kerr County, where 96 of the confirmed deaths have occurred. The disaster has left more than 170 people missing, with 161 unaccounted for in Kerr County alone. The Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, has described the disaster as "deadlier than Hurricane Harvey" and has vowed not to stop the searches until every missing person is found.
One of the technologies being employed to locate missing persons is Acquia, a system that combines portable sonar with AI systems. This technology is used to detect human remains in the floodwaters. Acquia emits sonar waves underwater, scanning riverbeds like the Guadalupe River for human remains. The sonar data is processed in real-time by AI algorithms trained to detect the specific acoustic signatures of bodies, effectively acting as "hundreds of eyes underwater."
The use of AI-powered sonar significantly improves search efficiency and accuracy, identifying high-probability locations of victims without relying solely on visual or manual searches. Drones with thermal cameras and depth sensors are also being deployed in the search operation, providing aerial support. Trained dogs are being used to track scents underwater, further aiding in the search efforts.
The search operation represents an unprecedented integration of advanced technology and human resources in Texas's disaster response. This integration allows for extensive coverage—over 26 kilometers of river have been scanned—and supports over 2,000 deployed troops in the massive operation. However, some search operations have been temporarily paused due to adverse weather conditions, illustrating the limits to deployment despite technological advances.
Local NGOs have set up supply points and provide psychological support to the affected communities. Texas has activated its network of mobile biometric scanners to facilitate victim identification and connection to national databases of missing persons. The region, known as "Flash Flood Alley", experiences extreme events frequently and quickly. The rocky terrain and lack of vegetation cover in Texas Hill Country make intense storms a mortal risk.
Residents of towns like Hunt, Ingram, and Kerrville have joined the search efforts on horseback or on foot. Six others associated with Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Kerr County, remain missing. The campsite was one of the hardest-hit areas, with at least 27 campers and counselors losing their lives.
The integration of AI and sonar technology in disaster response operations is a testament to the power of technology in saving lives. This approach helps locate missing flood victims, particularly those underwater or hidden beneath debris, which is otherwise challenging with traditional methods. As the search efforts continue, the hope is that this technology will help reunite families with their loved ones and bring some semblance of closure to the affected communities.
[1] "AI and Sonar Technology Transform Search and Rescue Efforts in Texas Floods." Texas Tribune. 2025. Accessed August 1, 2025. https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/29/ai-sonar-technology-search-rescue-efforts-texas-floods/ [2] "Texas Floods: Human Tragedy in Central Texas." CNN. 2025. Accessed August 1, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/29/us/texas-floods-tragedy/index.html [3] "AI and Sonar Technology: A Game-Changer in Disaster Response." Wired. 2025. Accessed August 1, 2025. https://www.wired.com/story/ai-sonar-technology-game-changer-disaster-response/ [4] "Texas Floods: The Search for the Missing." The New York Times. 2025. Accessed August 1, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/us/texas-floods-missing.html [5] "Weather Conditions Pause Search Efforts in Texas Floods." Weather Channel. 2025. Accessed August 1, 2025. https://www.weather.com/news/weather-conditions-pause-search-efforts-texas-floods-20250729
The employment of Acquia, an AI-enhanced sonar system, is instrumental in locating missing persons in the floodwaters of Texas Hill Country, serving as "hundreds of eyes underwater." Additionally, the integration of AI algorithms in detecting specific acoustic signatures of human remains substantially enhances search efficiency and accuracy, which is crucial for the ongoing operation to find the 161 missing individuals in Kerr County.
