Mireya Villareal reports on the ground in Texas as the desperate search for dozens of missing young campers intensifies after catastrophic flash flooding killed at least 43;
Dani Beckstrom with the timing and track of tropical storm Chatal expected to make landfall in the Carolinas early Sunday morning; Multiple incidents of boats catching fire across several states following dangerous fireworks explosions,
Morgan Norwood reports on the new video; and more on tonight’s broadcast of World News Tonight with David Muir.
00:00 Intro
01:55 At least 43 dead, dozens of campers missing in Texas amid catastrophic flooding
06:20 Tracking Tropical Storm Chantal expected to make landfall
07:21 Several people injured after fireworks explosions in TN, AL, & GA
09:28 Trash piling up across Philadelphia after city fails to reach deal with striking workers
11:17 Israel sends negotiators to Doha after criticizing Hamas’ changes to ceasefire proposal
13:00 SCOTUS allows Trump administration to deport eight men to South Sudan
15:23 American Emma Navarro knocks out defending Wimbledon champ
16:41 California wildfire explodes in size, becomes largest fire of the year
17:05 Teammates, family, and friends gather for funeral of Soccer star Diogo Jota
17:38 Remembering Julian McMahon
18:14 America Strong, the shark attack survivors… adapting then uplifting
ABC World News Tonight with David Muir delivers the news that matters most. Watch to get the latest news stories and headlines from around the world.
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34 Comments
They didnt get enough notoce
To late noeme
Thru could hdve had proper notice if trump wouldn't have downsized the weather service. If all your greedy president fault.
TRUMP IS DOING A GREAT JOB.
Mother nature is a bitch God bless the children and their parents and all the ppl who ben affect by the floods 😢
Hey philly you want nyc to step in
Terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to the families of the lost and especially the parents of the children.
we as a US citizens don't want them to leave ,want them to be citizens of US
MAGALIFE
They Denny global warming and vote for the party who defunds Femma aside from Cali isn’t this what they wanted money for deportation,wall and conservative control but now who is helping them??? No funds for their aid because it went into the red party agendas
I have to go I needs to feeds the two cats I'll. E back later okay David Muir goodbye and goodnight God Blessed us always It' only me Ampy Cesare ❤❤❤❤
Prayers
An act of God is God's plan…
Please deport these people sir protect our country i trust president Trump 🙏
Bibi is EVIL.
Just saw former rapper has come forward and stated PDiddy paid off jurors with 50 million dollars watering the money through relatives of jurors stating big names were part of this ,,,Kim K,Oprah jlo jay z Beyonce all this satanic sex cult with kids they all want this silence
Can we prevent this ? Make big very very big and long pipelines from rivers flowing to California when rivers start flooding.we can go to moon.why can we spend Money to stop flooding.
My family’s house got destroyed
Your question cuts to the heart of a critical issue: *Why haven’t Texas and other regions with extensive aerial surveillance resources (like helicopters, drones, and thermal imaging) repurposed them for large-scale search-and-rescue (SAR) or emergency medical response, instead of primarily focusing on border enforcement?*
The answer involves a mix of **bureaucratic, regulatory, political, and operational challenges**, backed by real-world examples from the search results. Here’s a breakdown:
—
### *1. Regulatory and Legal Barriers*
– **FAA Restrictions**: Even for life-saving operations, drone use is heavily regulated. For example, Texas EquuSearch, a volunteer SAR group, was grounded by the FAA for years despite proving drones could locate missing persons faster than ground teams .
– **Airspace Coordination**: In disasters, unauthorized civilian drones often interfere with official operations, forcing responders to halt missions (e.g., during Texas floods and California wildfires) .
– **Lack of Emergency Waivers**: While emergency COAs (Certificates of Authorization) exist, obtaining them quickly during crises remains cumbersome .
—
### *2. Mission Prioritization (Border vs. SAR)*
– **Funding & Politics**: Texas allocates significant resources to border security (e.g., Operation Lone Star), where aerial assets are tied to immigration enforcement. Shifting these to SAR would require reallocating budgets—a politically contentious move .
– **Institutional Inertia**: Law enforcement helicopters are often optimized for pursuits or surveillance, not medical emergencies. Retrofitting them for SAR (e.g., adding AEDs or telemedicine kits) requires retraining and protocol changes .
—
### *3. Operational Challenges*
– **Payload Limitations**: Most drones used for border surveillance (e.g., MQ-9 Reaper) lack medical payload capacity. SAR-optimized drones need modular designs for AEDs, first-aid kits, or two-way communication .
– **Weather and Terrain**: Mountainous or flood-hit areas disrupt drone flights, and thermal imaging fails in extreme heat or heavy rain .
– **Coordination Gaps**: Without integration into 911 systems, aerial assets remain siloed. For example, EMS dispatchers rarely have direct access to border patrol drones’ live feeds .
—
### *4. Public and Privacy Concerns*
– **Surveillance Stigma**: Repurposing border drones for SAR risks backlash over privacy, as seen with ACLU lawsuits against police drone programs .
– *Misuse Fears**: Communities may oppose dual-use tech (e.g., thermal cameras tracking migrants *and missing hikers) without strict oversight .
—
### *5. Cost vs. Perceived ROI*
– **Short-Term Costs**: Retraining pilots, upgrading equipment, and maintaining dual-use fleets are expensive. Small agencies lack grants for such transitions .
– *Lack of Data**: While studies show drones reduce SAR response times by **30–50%* , few large-scale trials prove cost-effectiveness to policymakers .
—
### *Why It *Could Work—and Why It Hasn’t Yet**
– **Success Stories**:
– Chula Vista’s police drones cut emergency response times to *94 seconds* by integrating with 911 systems .
– Sweden’s drone-delivered AEDs arrived *16 minutes faster* than ambulances in cardiac arrest cases .
– **Missed Opportunities**:
– Texas’s National Guard MQ-9 Reapers (used for border surveillance) could scan flood zones for survivors but are rarely tasked for SAR .
– Helicopters with thermal imaging—ideal for locating missing persons—are often idle due to jurisdictional disputes .
—
### *The Path Forward*
To overcome these barriers, Texas (and similar regions) would need:
1. **Policy Shifts**: Fast-track FAA waivers for emergency drone use and create interagency SAR task forces.
2. **Tech Integration**: Link border drones to EMS networks, as done in Sweden’s AED program .
3. **Public Advocacy**: Highlight success stories (e.g., drones saving hikers in Big Bend) to build support .
**Bottom Line**: The resources exist, but systemic inertia and fragmented priorities prevent their optimal use. Until SAR is prioritized as highly as border security, these lifesaving tools will remain underutilized.
Would you like a proposal draft for Texas legislators advocating this shift? I can tailor it to highlight cost savings and public safety gains.
Here’s a concise, action-oriented *legislative proposal draft* for Texas policymakers, leveraging existing resources to enhance search-and-rescue (SAR) operations while maintaining border security capabilities. It includes real-world precedents, cost savings, and a phased implementation plan.
—
### *Proposal: The Texas Aerial Search-and-Rescue (TX-SAR) Act*
**Objective**: Reallocate a portion of Texas’s existing aerial surveillance resources (drones, helicopters, and thermal imaging technology) from border enforcement to **life-saving SAR missions**, without compromising border security.
#### *1. Immediate Actions (Phase 1)*
– *Repurpose 10% of Border Drone/Helicopter Flight Hours* for SAR:
– Use Texas National Guard MQ-9 Reapers and CBP helicopters to scan high-risk areas (e.g., Big Bend, Gulf Coast) for missing persons during low-smuggling activity periods.
– **Precedent**: Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office reduced SAR costs by 60% using drones for wilderness rescues .
– **Integrate Thermal Feeds into Texas EMS Networks**:
– Share real-time data with agencies like Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR) and local 911 dispatch centers.
– *Model**: Chula Vista, CA, cut emergency response times to **94 seconds* by linking drones to 911 systems .
#### *2. Policy & Funding (Phase 2)*
– **Fast-Track FAA Waivers for Emergency Drone Use**:
– Designate Texas as a pilot state for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights in SAR missions, mirroring the FAA’s waiver for Zipline’s medical delivery drones .
– **Reallocate Operation Lone Star Funds**:
– Redirect 5% of the $4.5B border budget to train personnel and equip drones/helos with:
– *Modular SAR Kits* (AEDs, first-aid supplies, two-way radios).
– *AI Distress Detection* (software like *TensorFlow* to flag humans in thermal footage).
#### *3. Public-Private Partnerships (Phase 3)*
– **Partner with Volunteer Groups**:
– Coordinate with Texas EquuSearch to deploy state-owned drones in missing-person cases, avoiding past FAA grounding issues .
– **Corporate Grants**:
– Seek funding from Texas-based firms (e.g., SpaceX, Lockheed Martin) for dual-use drone tech, as seen with Skydio’s police drone donations .
#### *4. Metrics for Success*
– *Reduce SAR Response Times**: Target **30% faster* rescues in rural zones (based on Sweden’s drone-AED program results ).
– **Cost Savings**: Cut helicopter SAR costs by using drones ($250/hour vs. $1,000/hour for helos ).
– *Lives Saved**: Track metrics like “time-to-location” for missing hikers (e.g., **2-hour reduction* via thermal drones ).
#### *5. Addressing Concerns*
– **Privacy Protections**:
– Require SAR drone data to be deleted after 72 hours unless used in criminal cases (modeled on Austin Police drone policy ).
– **Border Security Balance**:
– Use predictive AI (like CBP’s **RADBOARD**) to schedule SAR flights during low-smuggling periods .
—
### *Draft Letter to Legislators*
**Subject**: Leveraging Texas’s Aerial Assets to Save Lives—The TX-SAR Act
> Dear [Legislator’s Name],
>
> Texas leads the nation in aerial surveillance technology, yet these resources remain siloed in border enforcement while preventable SAR tragedies mount. The *TX-SAR Act* proposes a cost-neutral, phased approach to:
> 1. *Repurpose 10% of existing drone/helo flight hours* for SAR without compromising border security.
> 2. **Integrate thermal feeds with 911 systems**, replicating Chula Vista’s 94-second response model.
> 3. *Secure FAA waivers* to fast-track drone deployments in emergencies.
>
> **Impact**:
> – Save 50+ lives annually (based on Tarrant County’s drone rescue rates).
> – Reduce SAR costs by $3M/year by substituting drones for helicopters .
>
> We urge your support to bring this lifesaving plan to committee. [Attach 1-pager with data from Tarrant County/Sweden examples.]
>
> Sincerely,
> [Your Name/Organization]*
—
### *Next Steps*
1. *Identify Allies**: Target reps on **Public Safety* and *Homeland Security Committees* (e.g., Rep. Greg Bonnen, Chair of House Appropriations).
2. *Media Push**: Pitch op-eds to *Texas Tribune highlighting “border drones that saved a hiker” (human interest angle).
3. *Pilot Program**: Propose a 6-month trial in **Travis or Hays County* (high SAR demand + tech-savvy leadership).
This proposal balances *pragmatism* (using existing tools) and *innovation* (AI/EMS integration). Would you like adjustments to emphasize specific regions or agencies?
Taxpayers dollars wasted just paying all that man power for border security when it can be used to save American lives in the coming storms
Well, that’s nice. It’s going to take Trump a week to get down and visit the disaster area.
What a great president we have
NOT!
Does T Mobile have the right to shut down people's phone's that rises up against injustices here and around the world . ? I believe we must keep law the laws of constitution, & bill of right s not just the ones we want ! To do so you lose the sight of the American dream . Written by John Thomas Winkler Us
There are many illegals helping out in the Texas flood. Is ICE checking local shelters?
Last story was so beautiful!
"Kumbaya" is a timeless spiritual folk song, often associated with unity, peace, and faith. Its lyrics—*"Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya"*—express a yearning for divine presence and communal harmony.
### Key meanings behind the phrase:
1. *Spiritual Appeal*
– "Kumbaya" (also "Come by Here") is a plea for God’s presence and comfort in times of struggle.
– Often sung during gatherings, protests, or worship as a symbol of hope.
2. *Cultural Legacy*
– Originated among African American communities in the early 20th century.
– Became an anthem during the civil rights movement, embodying solidarity.
3. *Modern Use*
– Today, "a Kumbaya moment" can describe an idealistic call for unity (sometimes used ironically).
– Its core message remains: healing through shared humanity.
If you’re reflecting on the song or its message—what’s on your mind? 🙏✨. AMEN
Texas❤Sonya choi
Its ok… just continue sending money to Pissreal!
Good job
Latinos for trump is what you voted for.
Sending Love and Prayers to all the families affected by the horrible floods in Texas!
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We 😅😅
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭💀GAZA😭😭😭IRAQ 😭😭😭😭AFGHANISTAN 😭😭💀LEBANON 😭😭💀
They give billions to Israel and Ukraine but keep us in peverty in Philadelphia get y'all still together American government