NYC Drones Alert Residents About Flood Threats

New York City officials have deployed drones to warn residents about potential flash flooding. Heavy rainfall is expected to hit the city from Tuesday afternoon until midday Wednesday, posing significant flooding risks to low-lying areas and basement dwellers. This innovative approach aims to ensure public safety as extreme weather events become more frequent due to climate change, reports the New York Times.

Drones on Flood Patrol

Starting at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, five teams of drone operators began fanning out across New York City. These drones are equipped with loudspeakers to broadcast safety messages, alerting residents in flood-prone neighborhoods. The initiative, led by Mayor Eric Adams, focuses on areas like Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Jamaica, Hollis, and the Rockaways in Queens; Throgs Neck and the Bronx River vicinity in the Bronx; Coney Island in Brooklyn; and New Dorp and Fox Beach in Staten Island.

A Mayor’s Vision

Zachary Iscol, the commissioner of the city’s emergency management department, highlighted that this drone initiative was Mayor Adams’s idea. Known for his love of technology, Mayor Adams has previously introduced various tech gadgets for city operations, including a subway patrol robot and devices to aid Police officers. However, drones seem to be his favorite. Under his leadership, drones have been used for building inspections, monitoring protests, and even spotting sharks and swimmers in distress. In one experimental program, drones were equipped with flotation devices to assist swimmers in need.

Real-Time Alerts

The drones delivered messages in both English and Spanish, targeting historically flood-prone neighborhoods. The English message was recorded by an emergency response official, while the Spanish message was computer-generated.

A video shared by the city captured a drone in Staten Island announcing: “Heavy rainfall and flooding will take place until Wednesday morning. If you live in a basement or a ground-floor apartment, be prepared to leave your location if flooding occurs. Do not hesitate.”

Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, expressed concerns that the city had not been transparent about its drone usage and had not addressed privacy issues.

“It sounds really benign and potentially quite helpful, but in fact there are so many unanswered questions that New Yorkers have to be concerned,” Lieberman reportedly said.

DroneXL’s Take

This innovative use of drones by New York City highlights their potential in emergency management. As extreme weather events become more common, drones can provide timely and effective warnings to residents, potentially saving lives. This initiative aligns with other innovative drone uses, such as monitoring Wildlife or delivering medical supplies. For more insights on Drone Technology in emergency management, check out our recent articles in the First Responders category.

Photo courtesy of the Emergency Management Department.