2018 Hurricane Florence
In 2018, Hurricane Florence landed on the eastern coast of the United States, causing significant damage and widespread flooding in North and South Carolina. The storm, classified as a Category 4 hurricane at its peak, resulted in at least 51 deaths and caused an estimated $24 billion in damages.
In September 2018, in response to the hurricane, the RAPID facility dispatched a fleet of drones and equipment to North Carolina to assist in two reconnaissance efforts.
During the first mission, the RAPID facility collaborated with the GEER team, employing short-range lidar and other tools to evaluate landslide and coastal damage caused by the hurricane.
RAPID staff traveled to North Carolina for the second research effort to aid a StEER reconnaissance mission. The team collaborated with StEER researchers to examine flooding and wind damage utilizing Applied Streetview, two UAVs, and other reconnaissance equipment.
In a subsequent third mission, the StEER/RAPID team employed Applied Streetview, Mavic Air, and Matrice 210 drones to assess flooding and wind damage in and around Elizabethtown, North Carolina. The team gathered valuable perishable data to enhance understanding of the hurricane’s impact and inform future hazard mitigation strategies.
