Usage of Air Transports During Natural Disasters

Disasters are a time of great strife and confusion in which basic transportation is often disrupted. Aerial transportation is one way to improve rescue attempts and access during catastrophes.

Transportation Disruption

• Depending on the disaster at hand, transportation can be limited or even entirely cut off. Major roadways could be inundated by flood waters or destroyed by seismic activity. However, just because the ability to move around in cars is limited doesn't mean the need to evacuate an area or bring in resources has changed. Aerial vehicles improve access by magnitudes unimaginable in centuries past.

Survey

• Aircrafts allow for a visual survey of an area after disasters, and even long afterward into recovery efforts. Understanding where the most damage occurred helps to allocate resources efficiently. Aircrafts can even be mounted with surveying equipment like LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) which bounces signals off of the ground to update maps of the topography. This kind of survey is especially valuable after seismic and volcanic events where the landscape may have literally shifted.

Rescue

• Helicopters are an invaluable modern asset for rescue during emergencies. Even planes have their limits. While the range and speed of planes is better suited to some tasks, the agility and versatility of helicopters makes them perfect for response to disasters and rescuing populations in areas cut off from regular access. During Hurricane Katrina, helicopters were able to hover above rooftops of New Orleans citizens stranded by floodwaters and safely evacuate them.

Relief Efforts

• Wealth and resources are not always nearby when catastrophe strikes a particular region. Transporting personnel, resources and donated goods for relief efforts is made much more feasible by using aircrafts. Mobilization can happen as soon as political will allows. If a presidential disaster declaration is made, National Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can be sent to disaster zones in mere hours.

Limits

• Despite the advantages of using aircrafts during disasters, there are some limitations. There are certain scenarios when aircrafts simply cannot operate at close range, most notably during volcanic eruptions. The ash cloud produced by eruptions reduces visibility and can cause aircraft failure if ash clogs the air intakes of engines. Even when physical conditions allow for aircrafts to be used, the advantages of aerial vehicles are severely diminished without the ability to coordinate information and rescue efforts.