Gone is the weather siren. Instead, New York City emergency management officials have turned high-tech, using drones to warn residents about potential threatening weather. With a buzzing sound in the background, drones equipped with loudspeakers fly over homes warning people about impending heavy rains. “Be prepared to leave your location; if flooding occurs, do not hesitate” is the message the drone pipes out. About 5 teams with multiple drones each are deployed to specific neighborhoods prone to flooding, and the messages are relayed in multiple languages. Flash floods have been deadly for New Yorkers living in basement apartments, which can quickly fill up in a deluge. The drones are in addition to other forms of emergency messaging, including social media, text alerts, and a system that reaches more than 2,000 community-based organizations throughout the city that serve senior citizens and people with disabilities.
