How Satellite Imagery Can Predict Billion Dollar Disasters
Satellite imagery is a critical element of emergency preparedness, as it can help predict when and where large natural disasters will occur. This is crucial, because the frequency and severity of massive weather-related events is on the rise. According to NOAA, there were 14 “billion-dollar” disasters in the U.S. alone in 2019. This includes 10 hurricanes or large storms, 3 floods, and one wildfire.
The Emergency Preparedness Benefits of Satellite Imagery
Satellite imagery not only helps predict disasters and provide an early warning, but it can also help recovery efforts by showing detailed images of the hardest-hit locations.
In terms of the early-warning benefits, it goes without saying that the sooner the word gets out of an impending disaster, the better. This allows emergency planners and first responders to optimize recovery effort staging, expedites evacuation protocols, and generally helps ensure that the maximum number of people are prepared to weather the storm.
Recovery efforts are also aided by satellite imagery. The main benefit is flood-mapping, which improves the ability of first responders and utilities to plan restoration and recovery efforts by identifying impassible roadways. It also helps optimize evacuation routes, which is obviously critical because lives are on the line.
All of these benefits are likely to improve over time thanks to continued technological advances. For example, NOAA’s newest satellites (JPSS) provide full, global imagery twice a day from only 500 miles up. Forecasts are becoming more accurate, and response data more targeted. NOAA satellites are used extensively by FEMA and other organizations to provide a boost to overall preparedness.
There is little doubt that satellite imagery is a critical component of emergency preparedness, whether it’s at the utility, first responder, or governmental level. It can dramatically improve forecasting and recovery efforts, and definitely helps save lives. And as the technology continues to evolve, these benefits will only become more pronounced going forward.
