The Arkansas Tornado Footage The Federal Aviation Administration Doesn't Want You To See

Storm chaser and videographer Brian Emfinger used a drone to capture stunning video documenting the aftermath of a tornado that ripped through Arkansas.  His use of a drone to capture the footage raises questions about the FAA’s expansive claim of authority to prohibit this valuable form of news gathering.  Emfinger shot the footage just moments after a tornado struck Mayflower, Arkansas, one of the hardest hit areas in the state located just forty minutes north of Little Rock.

Estimates place the size of the tornado at nearly a half mile wide, the storm left a wide swath of destruction in its wake, shutting down the interstate in both directions and killing fourteen people.  While the winds associated with the storm reached up to 150 miles per hour, Emfinger was able to use the drone almost immediately after the storm’s winds subsided.

Drones are an ideal platform for quickly gathering information in the aftermath of storms and other calamities as they can be quickly deployed by storm trackers like Emfinger.  Drones are also an ideal way to conduct search and rescue operations, especially after a tornado when debris may block access to areas where survivors may be found.   The speed with which Emfinger deployed his drone shows how it is an obvious tool for first responders.

Despite the clear value of drones in disaster response and search and rescue operations, one search and rescue group based out of Texas has been forbidden from flying their drones in search and rescue operations, prompting them to sue the federal government.  That case has sent a message to all would be search and rescue groups, letting them know they should keep their drones grounded, lest they face fines for trying to help find lost persons.

Read more here:  http://www.forbes.com