Amazon's delivery drones might be useful for emergencies in the future.

[Kablooie]

It occurred to me that once Amazon gets their PrimeAir delivery drones up and running they could be a great help for disasters like Houston. They could deliver supplies or even inflatable boats to people stranded in difficult to reach locations. Currently Amazon sells a 5 person inflatable boat with a box dimension of 24 X 21 X 14, weighing 56 lbs. Future delivery drones might be able to manage packages of this size and would not be limited by ground conditions.

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Prime-Air/b?node=8037720011

[Phoenix61]

1. Neat idea! I hadn't really thought about the use of drones

during emergencies like what is happening in Houston. I can see them being deployed for many reasons, checking road conditions, searching for people, along with dropping supplies.

[Hortensis]

2. Yes. Of course, not during stalled storms.

Someone was pointing out that with normal hurricanes a day or two after they hit normal summer weather returns. Whole regions may be a mess, but the sun's shining, neighbors are out comparing damage and cutting up downed trees, etc. And drones could be delivering medicines to hospitals.

[Kablooie]

3. Amazon drones are specifically designed for delivering packages

[Hortensis]

4. Yes, amazing. But not during big tropical storms.

For those times there are trucks. When the roads are passable.