Post-Hurricane Helene Recovery: The Toll of Extreme Weather and the Role of Drones in Recovery Efforts

Over the last week, I had the opportunity to volunteer in Western North Carolina, contributing to response and recovery efforts after tropical storm Helene. We were primarily involved with flying drones to document conditions and support search and rescue efforts. Seeing this region transformed from a mountain oasis dotted with wholesome mountain communities into a region blanketed with an incomprehensible amount of debris, landslides, washed out roads, and entire towns devastated was clear evidence of Helene’s overwhelming force. It was heartbreaking to witness the loss of these beautiful communities, yet it was encouraging to experience the unshakable warmth and resilience of these mountain communities.

The Power of Drones in Disaster Recovery

Flying drones over disaster zones has become an increasingly important tool in modern response and recovery efforts. The drones allowed us to assess areas that were still difficult to reach due to landslides and washed-out roads. These aerial views not only helped direct resources but also provided a way to locate isolated families and communities still in need of assistance. In the aftermath of Helene, some of the ways drones are being used to support response efforts include:

Rapid Damage Assessment: After a storm, getting a clear picture of the affected areas can take days, especially when roads are blocked by flooding or landslides. Drones can cover hard-to-reach areas quickly, capturing high-resolution imagery and videos that allow first responders to assess the extent of the damage in real-time.

Accessing Isolated Areas: As I witnessed, many communities were cut off from the rest of the region due to landslides. In such situations, it can take days or weeks to clear blocked roads. Drones offer a way to monitor these isolated areas from the air, providing crucial information to emergency crews about alternative routes, where supplies are most urgently needed, and deliver lifesaving resources such as EpiPens and insulin.

Search and Rescue Support: In the initial days after Hurricane Helene, rescue teams used drones to assist in locating individuals trapped by floodwaters or stranded in remote areas. Drones equipped with thermal imaging can scan vast stretches of land for signs of life, making rescue operations more effective.

Monitoring Infrastructure: One of the biggest challenges after a storm is assessing damage to critical infrastructure like bridges, roads, and power lines. Using drones, recovery teams can inspect hard-to-reach areas without putting people at risk. This allows for quicker decision-making regarding repairs and re-establishing access routes.

Speeding Up Recovery Efforts: Drones can reach areas in minutes that could take hours to access by foot. Ultimately, the faster we can gather information about affected areas, the faster recovery efforts can begin. By using drones, emergency response teams can prioritize resources, deploy personnel more effectively, and make informed decisions that accelerate the recovery process.

Grassroots Community Support

As important as drones are for gathering information, it is on-the-ground community response that truly showed the resilience of these towns. In each town we helped, donations were pouring into centralized locations and volunteers from surrounding areas worked to transport these donations to communities that were still cut off from the main supply routes. As some areas continue to wait for outside support, it was encouraging to see how resilient the communities have been in grassroot efforts conducting wellness checks, sharing resources, and supporting each other as they await external support.

The Long Road to Recovery

Helicopters flew overhead and swift water teams scoured every inch of the rivers, continuing to search for the most isolated groups and deliver aid where it was most needed. Despite the incredible community and technological response, it’s clear that the recovery from Helene will take time. Many roads have been destroyed, and in some areas, homes have been completely wiped out. It will be weeks, if not months, before any real sense of normalcy returns to the region.

Still, the overwhelming support from nearby areas gives me hope. Every vehicle driving into the affected towns was loaded with supplies—water, food, diapers, formula, animal feed, disinfecting wipes, first aid kits, and other critical resources. NCDOT, FEMA, The National Guard, and so many others in the community supporting their fellow neighbors are working around the clock to open access to the region and distribute resources throughout the community. These efforts, combined with the invaluable role of drones in mapping and assessing damage, demonstrate a powerful combination of human compassion and technological innovation in recovery efforts.

Moving Forward

My heart goes out to the communities of Western North Carolina. I have never personally seen devastation to this scale, and I only wish there was more I could do. While the damage caused by tropical storm Helene has left many communities in need, there is a sense of hope in the region that demonstrates the incredible resilience and resourcefulness of Western North Carolina communities. As the region continues to rebuild, it is clear that the use of drones in disaster response and recovery can serve as a lifeline and help communities get back on their feet faster. You can help support Western North Carolina communities as they recover from the devastation caused by tropical storm Helene through these donation and volunteer efforts.

Dr. Chris Zarzar is the Director of Weather Strategy and Innovation at TruWeather Solutions. Chris joined TruWeather Solutions after a career in academia, where he coupled his geospatial and atmospheric sciences background to study the impacts of urban areas on local weather conditions. He holds a Part 107 Certificate, an MA in Geography, and a PhD in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.