Video: New York City deploys drones to warn residents of weather

NEW YORK (PIX11) -- New York City is using its fleet of drones to help warn people of weather advisories.

Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol said New Yorkers seeing the worst of this storm will have very little time to tell if things are getting bad.

"We know the tri-state area is the target area right now. Right now, you have maybe an hour's notice, and you know what's going to get hit very hard," Iscol said.

It will not be unlike the remnants of hurricane Ida three years ago, which struck overnight, drowned 11 people in their basement homes, and killed dozens around the tri-state.

The risk is genuine in those basement homes, which are often illegal and unregulated.

So, the city has been pushing messaging in multiple languages across social media, text messages, and other alerts.

On Tuesday, the city flew its growing fleet of drones overhead in several key neighborhoods, using loudspeakers to warn people in multiple languages that they need to be aware of the coming weather and have a plan to move to higher ground if necessary.

The Office of Emergency Management is also spreading the word through 2,000 nonprofit organizations, most likely to connect with someone of lesser means who is living in a basement.

"Not everyone gets their information from social media. Some people don't speak English, so we must meet New Yorkers where they are, and Zach has been able to do so by coming up with this real portfolio on how to meet as many New Yorkers as possible.

New York's first responders are also on high alert. FDNY vehicles are equipped with higher axles for water rescues, and the sanitation department works overtime to clear catch basins.