With another week of bad weather ahead, NYC officials developed a unique way of warning locals. To keep vulnerable neighborhoods knowledgeable about possible weather crises, loudspeaker-equipped drones have been released into the sky.
According to AP News, the devices will emit “a buzzing sound in the background…warning people who live in basement or ground-floor apartments about impending heavy rains.”
In addition to the emergency messages in the sky, the drones can make social media posts, send text alerts, and report to over 2,000 community-based organizations serving seniors, people with disabilities, and others requiring care.
Drone operators have taken everything, including language barriers, into consideration. Zach Iscol, the city’s emergency management commissioner, explained that the messages would be played in multiple languages.
The drones have already proven more than useful yesterday. According to the New York Times, messages were delivered in English and Spanish in Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Jamaica, Hollis, the Rockaways, Throgs Neck, the Bronx River, Coney Island, New Dorp, and Fox Beach.
Emergency response officials recorded the English message, shown below and a computer recorded the Spanish one:
“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”
This is a smart move by NYC officials, especially considering the statistics New York has seen in the past decade. AP News states, “Flash floods have been deadly for New Yorkers living in basement apartments, which can quickly fill up in a deluge. Eleven people drowned in such homes in 2021 amid rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida”.
Discussing the technological approaches taken to reach citizens, self-described “tech geek” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the following at a press briefing yesterday:
“We live in a bubble, and we have to meet people where they are in notifications so they can be prepared”.
While it is unknown how long the drones will be in the air, they are expected to remain there until the weather impacts their ability to fly.
Stay dry, stay alert, and, rest assured, the state is in good hands.
