Heavy rains that dropped 2 to 3 inches across the area on Monday led to flooding in several low-lying parts of Clay County, setting the stage for a late-night rescue effort after three individuals went missing while tubing in the backwaters.
At approximately 11:14 p.m., the Clay County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a concerned parent reporting that her daughter and two friends had not been heard from since about 7:30 p.m. after heading out to tube in the flooded backwater areas.
Deputies responded to the area and located the group’s vehicle but were initially unable to locate the missing individuals. Multiple locations were searched without success, and it was noted during the investigation that one of the individuals has a medical condition requiring regular medication.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the sheriff’s office called for additional support from Clay County ESDA/Rescue, the Iuka Fire Protection District, and the North Clay Fire Protection District.
At approximately 12:31 a.m., while emergency personnel were staging, a member of the Iuka Fire Protection District deployed a drone to assist in the search. Within just three minutes, at 12:34 a.m., the drone operator successfully located the three individuals in a wooded area roughly a quarter mile from their vehicle.
Deputies quickly made their way on foot to the group, escorted them back to the road, and had them evaluated by EMS personnel. The individuals declined medical treatment and were safely returned to the care of their families.
Authorities credited the swift location and rescue to the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies and the rapid deployment of drone technology, which proved critical in a potentially dangerous situation.
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