Drones Broadcast Storm Warnings to New Yorkers

On tuesday, 22 october 2024, New York City emergency management has traded in the traditional bullhorn for cutting-edge technology, using drones to alert residents about dangerous weather.

Amid the hum of drone propellers, these devices equipped with loudspeakers fly over neighborhoods, warning residents in basement or ground-floor apartments about approaching heavy rainfall.

“Be ready to evacuate... if flooding happens, don’t hesitate to leave,” echoed a voice from above in footage released by the city's emergency management agency, creating a somewhat dystopian scene.

Five teams, each operating several drones, were dispatched to flood-prone areas across the city to issue the warnings.

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