Everywhere around the globe is prone to some sort of natural disaster. There is no way we can completely eliminate natural disasters from happening. However, over the years, advancements in engineering and environmental science have helped us develop technologies to be better prepared before the storm hits and help accelerate the recovery process. Let’s look at some of the tools.
Radar and Satellite Imagery
Trends can be detected from radar and satellite imagery which can help predict future storms. The more data we collect and the larger our database becomes, the safer we will end up being. Here is a list of satellites and tools NASA has developed and tested over the years.
Radio Signals, News Outlets, and Direct Communication Lines
Radio signals, news outlets, and direct communication lines can help warn people even from the other side of the planet. Typically, the place a storm first develops is not the only place it will go. Winds and hills push storms around and these storms can cover huge areas of land over multiple hours or even days. When the first signs of the storm have been detected, it is now easier and more efficient to warn areas that are in the path of the storm.
Drone Footage and Aerial Photography
Drone footage and aerial photography can help map out and locate the areas that require the most assistance in real time. Drones can remain off the ground or in elevated places to ensure they don’t get in the way of the storm. These images and videos can also help document the damage and add to historical records for future events.
Wireless Devices
You may not have ever thought about how useful or important wireless devices are in the case of an emergency or time of need. But you just might be on the move or in a situation that requires you to relocate. Having wireless devices allows you to keep communication lines open, having access to emergency services and navigation when on the road takes the worry out of acting fast enough in emergencies.
On average, when disaster preparedness devices are used, communities save up to 400% of costs on emergency services and recovery efforts. Prioritizing the efforts before a storm even hits help to save, not only lives, but also a community’s economy. In today’s society, we might not appreciate or even notice all of the technological advancements that we have at our disposal, but comparing back even the past decade or two, we have made monumental discoveries and saved so many lives.
Though we can’t keep natural disasters happening, what we can do is better prepare ourselves and our environments to deal with them.
