Last year a series of devastating storms were responsible for power and service outage across the United States. These disasters affected millions of Americans and it became obvious how vulnerable these technological lifelines were to bad weather conditions.  Today, some companies are trying to fix the problem with drones. Last week in New Jersey, Verizon tested a 200-pound Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) equipped with a 17-foot wingspan and carrying a small cell tower known as “Femtocell”.

Femtocell was designed to provide cell services in areas that had lost coverage. In case of a natural disaster like a bridge or road going out or being washed away, Femtocell will provide the needed service to emergency responders.  The test took place at a small municipal airport in southern New Jersey. It is one among a long line of tests and exercises carried out by Verizon. The company has been testing since 2006 with the sole intention of providing cell service to emergency areas.

Losing communication when a disaster occurs is usually a frightening experience for both victims and rescuers. Emergency workers are not the only ones who will benefit from access to cell service. Anyone that is stuck and has access to their phone will be able to call for help.  Communication can mean life or death in emergency situations. After hurricane Irma, about 90% of cell sites were destroyed. Verizon’s test is a welcome addition and shows that Telcos are exploring ways to improve their services with drones.

Drones are being used by first responders in many use cases today. They are using them to scan flooded buildings, assist in search and rescue, for oil and gas leaks, and to monitor wildfires.  As many industries and companies adopt the use of drones, the United States Department of Interior announced on Tuesday that it will acquire 50 small UAVs for use in natural disasters.  Last year, the department of interior flew over 5000 drones and expects to fly 50% more in response to emergencies like floods and fires.

Dan Elwell, acting chief of the Federal Aviation Administration has stated that the use of drones in the U.S airspace is a national priority. He explained that drones are a lifeline during hurricane disasters. Drones are also delivering medical supplies to hard to reach areas in Rwanda. This is helping cut down on delivery time from hours to minutes.  And in Arizona, researchers at John Hopkins University used drones to fly some samples for over 160 miles over the desert. This was a three-hour flight that will test the limits of any high-end drone.

From all indications, drones are becoming a necessary part of life and business in the world today. Using drones for emergency situations is being rapidly adopted by many organizations. Even though many people fear for their privacy and some are concerned about its use by criminals, it still stands to reason that the good outweighs the bad.  Lives are being saved and we can expect more to be saved as drones are used to effectively manage disaster locations. Verizon’s plans prove that organizations will leverage the power of drone technology to help make the world a safer place.

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