The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) continues to support hurricane response and recovery efforts following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
This year’s hurricane season has been particularly devastating, with Hurricane Milton following quickly in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Communities that were still recovering from the previous disaster had to prepare for another record-breaking storm, and I am grateful that the rapid preparations for Hurricane Milton were conducted efficiently and effectively by state and local emergency managers and first responders. Their quick action and leadership no doubt saved lives, and our thoughts are with the impacted communities as they strive to return to a sense of normalcy.
Our colleagues at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are working around the clock conducting ongoing response and recovery efforts across the Southeast. With several teams spread across the region, it is essential to make the best use of available resources. As I mentioned previously when highlighting S&T’s Search and Rescue Common Operating (SARCOP) platform and its use in Hurricane Helene search and rescue efforts, technology is an essential force-multiplier in times like these, helping response teams cover more ground and better coordinate across jurisdictions.
One of the ways S&T and our partners continue to support hurricane response efforts is through a new unmanned aerial system, or drone, that officials are using to improve situational awareness and make informed decisions about resource deployment.
The drone, which is owned and operated by Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory, provides real-time video feeds that help FEMA teams determine the best ingress and egress routes for ongoing response efforts and delivering critical aid. Having this information is vital when determining where supplies and rescue teams need to be sent. Our partnership with Mississippi State University on this project is ongoing, and I’m eager to see how it will continue improving our nation’s response capabilities moving forward.
Additionally, FEMA and S&T have agreed to see how best to utilize the Directorate’s Science Advice and Guidance for Emergencies (SAGE) program in future response efforts. Through SAGE, S&T staff and our partners across government, academia, and the private sector can provide key subject matter expertise and technical insight to FEMA and the National Response Coordination Center, which serves as a centralized hub to monitor ongoing situations and coordinate with state officials when sending federal support.
The information provided from SAGE experts can help policy makers, emergency managers, and response personnel as they work to understand and address community-level concerns, such as a hurricane’s impact on drinking water and wastewater systems, damaged or destroyed critical infrastructure, and combating misinformation. S&T’s expertise in these areas is a key asset in helping prepare communities for future crises, so I’m glad we will be poised to help when called upon.
Finally, our partners at the Coastal Resilience Center (CRC), a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center of Excellence, have been hard at work over the past several weeks helping emergency managers in North Carolina and Florida better understand flood risks.
CRC’s ADvanced CIRCulation (ADCIRC) storm surge model predicts potential water levels with an impressive level of granularity. The model is a key resource when anticipating flood risks to coastal communities and understanding how water levels will rise and fall before, during, and after a storm.
Over the past several years, CRC has worked closely with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to incorporate ADCIRC into its suite of emergency management tools. This relationship has yielded real-world results, giving transportation teams detailed insight into where floods are most likely to occur when storms threaten the state’s coasts. Prior to Hurricane Helene, ADCIRC helped officials predict which areas across coastal North Carolina were likely to be most impacted so they could deploy resources accordingly.
The model was also helpful in the lead-up to Hurricane Milton. Officials from the City of Jacksonville, Florida, met with CRC and used ADCIRC predictions to understand potential flooding risks based on the various paths the storm could travel. The model has become a critical asset in helping coastal communities prepare for potential floods and predict how waters will recede following a surge.
Regardless of the crisis, nothing will ever replace the need for human insight and action to save lives and protect our communities. At S&T, our role is to explore specific opportunities where technology can support the people who work tirelessly to keep our nation safe. It’s a job we are proud to continue do as we support our DHS colleagues and partners across the nation in recovering from this season’s horrific storms.
Thank you again to the first responders and emergency managers who are giving everything they have to save lives. We’re honored to play a part in your vital work.