MSU Illustrates UAS Capability in Support of FEMA's Hurricane Helene Response

October 8, 2024

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University uncrewed aircraft systems are providing real-time data in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's response to Hurricane Helene.

Supported by the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate's Project JUSTICE, MSU's pilots, engineers and scientists from the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory and the Northern Gulf Institute deployed to Georgia Sept. 29 for UAS flights over impacted areas in the Southeast. By outfitting Raspet's large uncrewed aircraft with sophisticated sensors and cameras, MSU personnel provide real-time data and visuals on where floodwaters are moving to partners like FEMA Region 4 and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"I am extremely proud that MSU's UAS capabilities are supporting our federal partners as they carry out critical missions to protect lives and property," said Bryan Farrell, interim director of the Raspet Flight Research Lab. "This deployment comes after years of collaboration and successful training exercises. These efforts highlight the many ways large UAS can support emergency response, and how our research centers here at MSU work together to deliver new capabilities to our stakeholders. The effort not only provides immediate data for decision-makers, but the lessons learned influences future research directions."

The Raspet flight operations team is using its largest UAS, the Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation Teros, in the FEMA mission. Capable of flying for more than 20 hours and built with a 44-foot wingspan, the Teros can effectively carry large payloads that feed data and video to emergency operations commands.

MSU's Northern Gulf Institute, a NOAA Cooperative Institute, has led research efforts to improve flood modeling and river forecasting by leveraging data and imagery collected during UAS flights. That research has led to the development of new flood response capabilities that have been refined in collaboration with federal partners. NGI geoscience experts have been following Hurricane Helene and its path up the Gulf of Mexico and states such as Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee.

"Once a hurricane has passed over an inland area, the water it leaves behind is constantly moving, and that movement can be difficult to predict, especially in places where trees and other barriers might obscure water from satellite imagery," said Jamie Dyer, MSU geosciences professor and NGI associate director. "UAS allow us to see in better detail where water is going and which areas will be impacted by flooding, which is vital information to have during a crisis event. Additionally, the data we collect will improve the river forecasting models that local, state and federal officials rely on."

MSU's Raspet Flight Research Lab boasts the country's largest fleet of uncrewed aircraft systems, or UAS, in academic use, and recently celebrated its 75th year of aviation research. Working in collaboration with MSU faculty, students and other research centers, Raspet leads major UAS research, testing and evaluation efforts on behalf of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Defense. For more, visit www.raspet.msstate.edu.

The Northern Gulf Institute works to improve ecosystem management for the Gulf of Mexico with research that builds an integrated, comprehensive understanding of natural and human impacts on Gulf of Mexico ecosystems and economies. For more, visit www.northerngulfinstitute.org.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.

Contact: James Carskadon