This week’s “Around the Commercial Drone Industry” news round-up looks at how civilian drones are hindering Texas flood emergency response, the use of drones to spot sharks off New York beaches, and how drones helped California officials detect illegal fireworks use.

Civilian Drones Hinder Flood Disaster Relief in Texas

An article in Fast Company details how civilian drones are causing problems for emergency personnel responding to the recent flooding disaster in Texas. According to the piece, “Texas authorities are grappling with a compounding challenge: civilian drone operators interfering with emergency response.” Some amateur drone pilots are attempting to capture footage of the disaster area, while others are trying to locate and assist residents in trouble. Either way, the article asserts, these low-flying civilian drones “pose a collision risk to helicopters operating just above the ground to aid trapped residents.”

New York Turns to UAVs to Spot Sharks and Keep Swimmers Safe

In Queens and on Long Island in New York, authorities are increasing their use of drones to locate sharks that might endanger swimmers. The New York Times reports that “Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that state agencies now have 28 camera-equipped drones to search for sharks, as well as 48 trained drone operators.” As part of the effort, “when a shark sighting is confirmed, swimming cannot resume until at least one hour later.” The stepped-up drone surveillance effort comes following a series of shark sightings that forced the closing of area beaches before the Fourth of July.

Drones Detect Illegal Fireworks in California

Speaking of the Fourth of July, law enforcement officials in Sacramento, California have used drones in recent days to locate people shooting off illegal fireworks. Reporting in SFGATE.com reveals that around the holiday the “Sacramento Fire Department’s special fireworks task force patrolled the streets with unmarked cars and drones, focusing on neighborhoods where they’ve had prior complaints.”  Based on photographs of illegal fireworks activities taken by task force officers and the drones, property owners were issued fines. As of last Saturday, “around 60 citations were being prepared in Sacramento, with more likely on the way as fire officials review surveillance footage.”