People in North Dakota’s Oil Patch are asking to use drones to monitor flooding in the west of the state.
The state’s Oil and Gas Division made the request for drones used by the Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office, which must get permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly them outside of a 16-county area in northeastern North Dakota.
Oil and Gas Williston District Supervisor John Axtman said when rising waters get bad the only way to check flooded areas near oil wells is by boat, which can take hours.
