​​State aviation officials will develop a drone program in Lumberton to better respond to natural disasters. The photo shows flooding on Interstate 95 in Lumberton after Hurricane Florence in 2018.

Since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, up through 2024’s Hurricane Helene, destruction has swept through North and South America’s Atlantic communities. With predictive technology, people have the opportunity to take emergency preparedness actions, but there is still little that can be done. Once a storm moves on, it is up to local, state, and federal agencies to rapidly move in to address the situation.

Unfortunately, gaining access to communities to assess the damage and provide emergency aid after a storm is often hindered by flooding and debris blocking roadways. Over the last decade, emergency teams have come to rely on technology like drones in the wake of these devastating storms. Through the bird’s-eye view of a drone, emergency response teams can map out the safest ways to navigate a post-storm landscape. Drones can be used to identify dangerous downed powerlines or locate trapped individuals. They can also deliver emergency supplies like fresh water, medications, or flotation devices for victims awaiting rescue. Equipped with microphones and speakers, a drone can even relay safety messages and communicate with people.

Recently, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) announced that they would begin trialing a new drone-in-a-box program in preparation for the coming hurricane season. Generally, for a drone to be used, a trained and licensed pilot has to be given a location, travel to that location, and then launch the drone. As technology and regulations have progressed, it is now becoming possible to have drones stationed at key locations to be remotely activated for quicker response times. The NCDOT program will be similar to the DFR (Drones as First Responders) programs that are gaining popularity among police departments.

Cities like Chula Vista, CA, and Manhattan, NY, have demonstrated the validity of DFR programs, which place drones on rooftops. When a 911 call is received, an operator determines if using a drone would be beneficial. If the answer is yes, the drone is dispatched remotely, flown BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight), and arrives on the scene to provide support before an officer arrives. NCDOT is going to be doing something similar, though to assess storm-related issues before emergency crews can access impacted areas.

As part of the December 2024 Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program, the United States Department of Transportation allocated more than $130 million in grants to 42 technology programs to improve the lives of Americans. NCDOT’s Division of Aviation has been awarded $1.1 million from the SMART Grants program to test the drone-in-a-box program. Nick Short, interim director of NCDOT’s Aviation Division, explained that the goal is to better prepare emergency teams and community members in the event of tragic storms like Hurricane Florence or Helene, both of which hit the Carolinas very hard.

2018’s Hurricane Florence left nearly half of the mountain community of Lumberton, NC, flooded, with extensive damage to homes and roadways. Accessing the town to provide assistance and begin mapping out recovery methods was delayed because of inaccessibility. Fast forward to Hurricane Helene, and the NCDOT’s Department of Aviation had access to drones that were able to gather aerial data several days after the storm, allowing people to start rebuilding their lives.

Mr. Short said that the department learned a lot from having the opportunity to utilize drone technology after Hurricane Helene. The drone trial will take place in Lumberton, and he hopes that the program will further expedite emergency services. “With the ‘drone in a box,’ we can place a drone with medicine like insulin on the side of a road, and then those supplies are there and ready to be deployed right away,” Mr. Short said. “We will be able to deploy the drone remotely, so we can begin collecting data and delivering supplies without having to wait on someone to respond by driving into the area. In doing so, we’re also removing the risk of putting people in further danger during a natural disaster.”

As technology continues to advance, the integration of drones into emergency response strategies represents a promising leap forward in disaster management. By improving access to impacted areas, enhancing data collection, and ensuring quicker delivery of critical supplies, drone programs like the one being tested by NCDOT could revolutionize how we respond to natural disasters. With the lessons learned from past storms, this innovative approach has the potential to save lives and reduce the devastating impact of future hurricanes, ultimately helping communities rebuild more quickly and safely.

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