Global warming continues to impact the world through a range of changes. Over the last two decades, we have seen an increase in droughts that lead to wildfires, record high temperatures, and severe weather patterns. In 2012, Super Storm Sandy led to the deaths of more than 250 people throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. The state of New York alone lost 53 lives, 43 of whom were in Manhattan, where the storm caused approximately $19 billion in damages. The state of New York spent more than $32.8 billion on restorations, and the effects of the storm are still visible in certain areas.

While this historic hurricane was one of the most damaging storms to hit the New York area, it wasn’t the first and certainly not the last. The storm spurred Mayor Bloomberg to look for novel ways to help the residents of New York City in the event of another superstorm. One of the ideas Mayor Bloomberg proposed was the implementation of drone technology. However, the technology was still in its early stages at the time. It wasn’t until Mayor Adams, a self-proclaimed technology geek, took office in 2022 that drones became an everyday tool for New York City emergency services.

When a financial district parking garage collapsed on April 18, 2023, Mayor Adams authorized the use of drones to be the first on the scene to assess the damage. “It was a combination of drones and the robotic dog that went in, in an unsafe environment, so that we did not have to put the men and women of the FDNY and first respondents in harm’s way,” Mayor Adams said. “We saw how utilizing infrared technology can look at loose bricks, structural problems, loose screws. The potential is just endless. They will help us keep our bridges, tunnels, building and critical infrastructure in tiptop shape and condition.”

Mayor Adams has continued to encourage the city’s Drone Task Force to push the boundaries of what is possible to assist New Yorkers with drone technology. Over the summer, drones were widely used along New York’s beaches as extra lifeguards. Drones equipped with loudspeakers were also used in advance of approaching storms to warn people of safety measures. After six months of planning, New York City’s Drone Task Force conducted a major trial to prepare authorities for another superstorm.

For the first time ever, all of the city’s emergency response divisions came together to work as one cohesive unit to test drone rescue measures. Drone Task Force representatives from the NYPD, FDNY, and NYCEM set up mobile command stations from their vehicles around Seaview Children’s Hospital in Staten Island, which was destroyed and is now condemned, during Super Storm Sandy. The trial marked the largest drone demonstration the city has carried out.

Tests were conducted using drones to break through glass to gain access to the interior of the building. Once inside, drones equipped with spotlights and infrared cameras were used to provide situational awareness, locate “victims,” and examine structural integrity. Drones were also used to communicate with “victims” and deploy safety gear like flotation devices. “Some of the biggest challenges is always with communications and interoperability,” task-force exercise coordinator Jose Rolon. “Everyone has their own systems, their own channels that they operate on. So what we wanted to do was bring something where we could all work together on the same channel, speaking the same language, using the same equipment.”

The trial coincidentally took place just after the devastation of Hurricane Helene and serves as a blueprint for how drones can be vital tools during a storm. “From this exercise, we’re hoping to come out with policies and procedures to better operate at a real-life event like this,” Mr. Rolon went on to say. At a July 2023 press conference, Mayor Adams stated, “We’re paving the way for the future use of drones here in our everyday lives, not just in emergency situations… New York City is a 21st-century city, and we must use 21st-century services.” As the threat of severe storms continues to grow due to climate change, reliance on drone technology becomes ever more important. Whether used to warn people of emergency evacuation plans, deliver life-saving equipment, provide emergency workers with situational awareness, or locate possible victims, drone technology is changing the way we address disasters like hurricanes.

Previous Drone News: