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do our jobs," Hall said.
Hall hopes more women get to experience the same.
"I was surprised to hear I was the only female pilot,"
Hall said, noting she discovered her status during
training. "While that is so neat, I hope that it doesn't
last long."
Growing up near the Shelby County Airport, Hodges
thought it would be fun to see things from above. He
now has his chance as a drone pilot.
Sometimes the site isn't pretty in one sense but is in
another.
"To be able to fly over Hurricanes Harvey (August
2017) and Michael (October 2018) gave me a
chance to see the destruction in a way I will never
forget," Hodges recalled of storms that hit Houston
and the Florida Panhandle. "When you drive into a
neighborhood, you see the hurt that is right in front of
you. But when you fly, you see the bigger picture.
"To see hundreds of men and women coming into a
staging area from many different companies to help in
a storm and leaving each morning not truly knowing
what they have ahead of them each day — to see that
from above will make you proud of what you do and
how you are helping others in need," Hodges said.
Drone-eye view of flooding caused by
Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
Company infrastructure may be observed and
monitored in ways never before possible.
PHOTO by JAY PARKER