New York City emergency management officials have replaced traditional bullhorns with cutting-edge technology. Drones are now utilized to alert residents about any impending weather emergencies.
A drone equipped with a loudspeaker flies over homes, emitting a buzzing sound in the background. It warns residents who live in basement or ground-floor apartments about the approaching heavy rains.
The emergency management agency of the city released footage on Tuesday, in which a voice from the sky advised people to be ready to evacuate their location and not to hesitate in case of flooding.
The city’s emergency management commissioner, Zach Iscol, deployed approximately five teams, each with multiple drones, to flood-prone neighborhoods. The messages were communicated in various languages and were expected to continue until the drone flights were affected by the weather.
In 2021, the residents of basement apartments in New York City faced a deadly threat as flash floods caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida inundated their homes. These underground dwellings can quickly fill up with water, leading to tragic consequences. Shockingly, eleven people drowned in basement apartments during this disaster.
In New York City, drones are being utilized as part of emergency messaging efforts complementing other channels such as social media, text alerts, and outreach to community-based organizations that serve vulnerable populations including seniors and individuals with disabilities.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams emphasized the importance of meeting people where they are in terms of notifications, acknowledging that they live in a bubble. He highlighted the need to ensure that individuals are adequately prepared to receive the information they need.
According to reports, Adams is a self-proclaimed “tech geek” who has employed drone technology for various purposes, such as monitoring large crowds and searching for sharks on beaches. During his tenure, the police department of the city tested a robot for patrolling the Times Square subway station. Additionally, they have occasionally used a robotic dog for risky scenarios, including the 2023 Manhattan parking garage collapse.