Drones: The New Heroes in Disaster Recovery
In recent times, drones have become vital in saving lives during natural disasters.
The Sonoran Desert Institute in Arizona is helping train future drone operators, led by James McDanolds. He has a background with the Civil Air Patrol and knows a lot about using drones for rescue missions after disasters.
“As far as the use of drones for disaster response, I’ve been involved in a few things, but, now as the technology advances, there’s even more that can be done with that,” he said. “It’s really great to see and I really think that they’re an essential tool when we’re talking about disaster response.”
The school recently launched a new associate degree in Uncrewed Technology. Students learn skills like 3D mapping and thermography, which are useful in disaster situations.
McDanolds started using drones for disaster relief in Louisiana floods back in 2016. He used them to find stranded cars and people. He also explored areas in Appalachia and Sierra Nevada with drones equipped with special LiDAR technology.
We think it’s amazing how drones can help save lives and make rescue operations easier.
He even helped find missing folks in rural Pennsylvania, where there are many old mines and quarries. With hurricanes and floods happening more often, drones are becoming a key part of rescue teams.
New tools, like Skydio’s mapping software, help track tornado paths. Drones are also delivering supplies to flood victims and emergency workers.
Before disasters strike, drones help too. They can check for flood risks and inspect infrastructure like bridges that might get damaged. NOAA uses drones to study hurricanes’ strength and direction.
For those wanting to assist in emergencies, working with local management is crucial. Companies with useful drones should reach out to their local agencies.
“That relationship can be built and prepared beforehand,” he said. Partnerships matter for big companies and small drone operators alike.
McDanolds worked with officials before his current job to plan responses. This preparation meant everyone knew what tools were available before disasters hit.
Recent hurricanes on the Gulf Coast saw many drone owners offering help, even if they hadn’t trained for such events before. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, drones carried supplies over tough terrains in the Southeast.
“There’re individuals who have large multi-copter drones that are volunteering to use them to carry much-needed supplies over ridges and mountain ways to make sure that individuals can get the supplies needed,” he said. “They need those supplies sooner rather than later.”
Some volunteers used drones to improve communication lines, not just for people but for drone telemetry too.
When drone operators arrive at disaster sites, McDanolds emphasizes the importance of coordination with emergency teams.
“You don’t want just anyone showing up to a disaster response area and trying to help. When you’re working in a disaster response area, there’s a lot going on,” he said. “There could be a multitude of different manned aircraft as well as unmanned aircraft in the area. And we need to understand that structure, understanding that we can’t necessarily just show up out of the blue and say, ‘Hey, I want to fly. I want to help.’”
