EYE IN THE SKY
Instructor uses drone to help with disaster
During the flooding this summer, officials needed a way to see what was happening in areas that were more readily accessible from the air, and one Arkansas Tech University instructor used her skills and equipment to provide the information needed to make decisions.
Bethany Swindell, an instructor in the department of emergency management at ATU, used a drone to get aerial views of the flooding and situational assessments for Pope County, Yell County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She said that once the flooding started, she decided to help out because the community needed the resource and the assistance.
Using the drone, Swindell was able to obtain real-time views of the flooding in areas that could be difficult to access through other means. As an instructor of emergency management, she said, she has also been able to take into the classroom the lessons she has learned in the field.
“I can tell [students] about flying [a drone] from a boat and the importance of always being ready and having the right gear,” she said. “Chacos (sandals) are not the best footwear when fire ants, huge spiders and field mice are evacuating, too.”
The flood also had a personal impact on Swindell, as her grandparents’ home was a total loss after being overcome by floodwater.
“It was a surreal experience to monitor the floodwater progression from my family’s land and witness the slow creep of the water into their home, all while continuing my drone work, since there was nothing I could do to stop the water,” she said. “They are both in their 90s and lost everything when the levee failed. We are slowly rebuilding their lives, but there are many challenges with recovery and their special needs.”
Despite the hardship, Swindell is optimistic that the experienced she gained will benefit her students and the community. She said ATU offers unmanned aerial vehicle courses for those interested in obtaining a Part 107 license.