The American Red Cross is launching its first drone program to assess damage in an area of Houston hit hard by Hurricane Harvey. <br /><br />A CyPhy drone tethered to a generator will be deployed next week. The drone, which provides miles of visibility, will fly 400 feet above ground.<br /><br />The CyPhy drone, developed by a Massachusetts-based company, will help determine where aid is needed most, and will evaluate the cost of damage. <br /><br />This isn't the first time drones have been deployed for disaster relief. Drones were used after a major earthquake hit Nepal in 2015, and the New York City Fire Department has recently deployed drones for aerial monitoring. <br /><br />The hope is that the drone program will be effective enough to provide some relief to those suffering from the summer's hurricanes.
