When the Waters Rose: How Technology, and Leadership, Could Have Changed the 2025 Flood Disasters in Texas & North Carolina
- Audrey Walleser
- Jul 23
- 4 min read
In July 2025, two very different states—Texas and North Carolina—were united by a common tragedy: catastrophic flooding that claimed lives, displaced thousands, and exposed the fragility of our emergency response systems. In Texas Hill Country, flash floods surged through Kerr County, killing over 100 people, including 27 children and counselors at Camp Mystic. In North Carolina, Tropical Storm Chantal dumped over 10 inches of rain, triggering record-breaking floods in Chapel Hill and Durham, displacing hundreds and prompting over 130 water rescues.
These disasters weren’t just acts of nature—they were failures of foresight. But they didn’t have to be. With the right technology, empowered teams, and bold leadership, the outcomes could have been profoundly different.
Real-Time Communication: The Siren That Never Sounded
In Kerr County, Texas, the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes. Despite a flash flood warning issued at 1:18 a.m., many residents were asleep and unaware. Unlike the nearby town of Comfort, which had installed a modern siren system and reported no fatalities, Kerr County had no such infrastructure.
What could have helped:
Integrated alert systems combining mobile notifications, sirens, and smart home alerts.
Localized AI-driven warnings that adapt to terrain and population density.
Community-wide drills using mobile apps to simulate evacuation scenarios.
📍 Real-world example: Australia’s Emergency Alert system sends SMS and voice messages to residents in targeted zones, credited with reducing fatalities during bushfires and floods.
Predictive Analytics: Seeing the Storm Before It Hits
Both disasters were preceded by meteorological warnings—but not with the precision or urgency needed. In Texas, the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry created a mesoscale convective complex that overwhelmed the region. In North Carolina, Chantal’s remnants caused rivers like the Haw and Eno to crest at historic levels.
What could have helped:
AI-powered flood modeling to simulate river surges and identify high-risk zones.
Pre-positioning of resources like rescue boats and medical supplies based on predictive heat maps.
Dynamic evacuation routing using real-time traffic and weather data.
📍 Real-world example: Google’s Flood Hub now provides AI-driven flood forecasts up to 7 days in advance across 80+ countries, helping reduce fatalities by up to 43%.
Drones and Robotics: Eyes in the Sky, Hands on the Ground
In both states, overwhelmed rescue teams struggled to reach stranded residents. In Texas, survivors clung to trees and rooftops for hours. In North Carolina, dozens were rescued from submerged apartments and shopping centers.
What could have helped:
Drones for rapid damage assessment and survivor location.
Robotic watercraft to navigate flooded urban areas and deliver supplies.
Thermal imaging to detect body heat in debris or submerged vehicles.
📍 Real-world example: Mozambique’s disaster teams used drones and AI to locate flood victims in 2019, cutting search time from days to hours.
Smart Infrastructure: When Every Second Counts
The floods exposed how outdated infrastructure can turn deadly. In North Carolina, over 120 roads were closed, and a dam failure threatened downstream communities. In Texas, cabins were swept away in minutes.
What could have helped:
IoT sensors in bridges, dams, and levees to detect structural stress.
Smart traffic systems to reroute evacuees and emergency vehicles.
Automated floodgates and drainage systems triggered by rainfall thresholds.
📍 Real-world example: Semarang, Indonesia uses IoT sensors to monitor water levels and trigger early alerts, helping reduce flood damage.
Empowering Communities: Tech in Every Hand
Technology isn’t just for command centers—it’s for communities. In both states, many residents had little time or guidance to act.
What could have helped:
Mobile apps for self-reporting hazards, requesting aid, and checking in as safe.
Crowdsourced maps to track road closures, shelter availability, and supply needs.
Digital education platforms teaching flood preparedness and first aid.
📍 Real-world example: In Delhi, India, the IITD AAB Prahari app enables citizens to report flooding in real time, helping authorities identify hotspots and deploy resources faster.
What States Can Do Now
The road to resilience isn’t paved with tech alone—it requires leadership, collaboration, and investment in people.
Actionable steps:
Invest in interoperable alert systems and predictive modeling tools.
Expand drone and robotics programs for emergency response.
Retrofit infrastructure with smart sensors and automated controls.
Build mobile platforms for community engagement and education.
Develop leadership pipelines and cross-agency training programs to ensure technology is deployed effectively and equitably.
Lessons for the Future: Leadership Is the Linchpin
Technology can forecast, alert, and respond—but it’s people who implement, coordinate, and lead. The success of any system hinges on empowered teams, cross-sector collaboration, and leaders who act before the crisis hits. Resilience is not just a technical challenge—it’s a human one.
The Road Ahead: From Tragedy to Transformation
The 2025 floods were a wake-up call. But they can also be a turning point. By investing in smart, inclusive, and interoperable technology—and the leadership to deploy it—we can turn chaos into coordination and vulnerability into resilience.
The next storm is coming. The question is: will our leaders—and systems—be ready?
References
Australian Government. (n.d.). Emergency Alert. https://www.emergencyalert.gov.au/
Cottray, O. (2023, Winter). Drone mapping and AI combine to find flood victims faster in Mozambique. ArcUser, Esri. https://www.esri.com/about/newsroom/arcuser/disasterdrones
Damayanti, M. A., Wahyuningtyas, S. H., Balistyadhana, D. Z., Hapsari, A. D., El Shammah, A., Yusa, N. C. A., ... & Isworo, S. (2024). The IoT-based early warning system for detecting high tide floods (ROB-EWS) in Tambak Lorok, Semarang Indonesia. Journal of Geography, Environment and Earth Science International, 28(10), 13–24. https://doi.org/10.9734/jgeesi/2024/v28i10822
Google. (n.d.). Flood Hub. https://sites.research.google/gr/floodforecasting/
National Weather Service. (2025, July). Flash flood event summary: Kerr County, Texas. https://cw3e.ucsd.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/14Jul2025_TexasFloods_EventSummary/TexasFloods_EventSummary.pdf
North Carolina Department of Public Safety. (2025, July). Tropical Storm Chantal response overview. https://www.publicnow.com/view/68DB394FF6E7FF190DC0768BFF2BD449F1A5D701
Shukla, P. (2024). IITD Aab Prahari [Mobile application]. Apple App Store. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/iitd-aab-prahari/id6547851808
Stein, J. (2025, July 17). Governor declares state of emergency after historic flooding. North Carolina Office of the Governor. https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2025/07/17/governor-stein-declares-state-emergency-impacted-areas-help-facilitate-tropical-storm-chantal