Tornadoes in central America are not uncommon. Tornado season typically runs from May through June, with close to 1,000 tornadoes making landfall a year. For the most part, the damage caused by these storms is manageable. However, the December 10-11, 2021 tornado outbreak that ravaged parts of Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, and most notably Kentucky, was a unique event. When combined with an unseasonably moist and warm environment in the Mississippi Valley, the tornado intensity was boosted tremendously. The late season nocturnal storm destroyed entire communities. As of Sunday, December 12, the storm had claimed 90 lives, making it the deadliest December tornado ever in the United States.

Drone footage of the wreckage left behind has painted a picture that is unfathomable. With a bird’s eye view, the drones show an unrecognizable landscape. Heaps of debris that were once homes and businesses are all that is left. Looking at the drone images it is hard to understand how emergency crews could perform rescue missions. Luckily, drones are also equipped with technology that can assist in such missions. Deputy Bryan Teany of the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office’s drone unit in Colorado explained how drones can be beneficial in natural disaster situations.

Deputy Teany said that with drones, officers can assess a situation quickly without putting their lives at risk. When it comes to a search and rescue mission, every second counts, but at the same time, informed decisions must be made. “So we can go to a spot where maybe it may be unsafe to travel there on foot after a natural disaster,” Deputy Teany said, “like in cases like what’s going on in the Midwest right now. We can’t fly as long or as far as a chopper, but we can focus on specific things without disrupting other operations as easy.” He went on to explain that the drones have HD cameras that give officers a clear view of an area in question.

In addition to the standard HD camera, the drones also have infrared imaging capabilities. When searching through mountains of tornado strewn rubble, an infrared camera will allow a drone pilot to see what the naked eye cannot, heat signatures. With the advancement of drone and infrared technology, these heat signatures can be identified so the drone pilot can see if it is the signature of a human, animal, or in the worst case scenario, remains. With the combined data of the infrared and HD camera on a drone, a proper rescue or retrieval mission can be orchestrated.

President Biden approved federal disaster declarations for Kentucky and will continue to issue such approvals upon submission so relief efforts can begin. Drones will likely play a large part in the clean up and insurance inspections of the damage caused by the tornado. Strategic plans built from drone documentation will be pivotal in expediting what could otherwise take years to do. Drone footage can also provide police with safe traffic planning. The work needed to repair and heal the communities affected by the tornado will be endless. But with drone supported technology, the process can begin.