When Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina in 2024, communities were left isolated as roads and bridges collapsed, and power and communication systems failed. In response to challenges like these, Amazon has developed disaster-relief technology kits aimed at helping shelters, food banks, and other essential resources resume operations when traditional infrastructure is down.
The technology kits are modular and include solar panels for power, batteries to keep devices running, networking options such as Wi-Fi and satellite links, and sensors that assist first responders in mapping areas and sharing data. The kits are designed for ease of use so that anyone—from local firefighters to nonprofit staff—can quickly establish critical services.
Jeffrey Schweitzer, who leads Amazon’s disaster relief technology operations and innovation, emphasized the importance of connectivity after disasters. “In every single disaster, that’s the common denominator,” Schweitzer said. “The faster people can talk to each other and share information, the quicker we can reduce the chaos and help communities recover.” He added: “We’ve designed these kits so that following just four simple steps gives you power, connectivity, and the ability to enable everyone in your community center to talk to the world.”
Amazon’s solutions have already been used in recent emergencies. During floods in Central Texas, portable mapping devices from Amazon helped search-and-rescue teams coordinate their efforts safely. In Los Angeles wildfires, Amazon provided technology for drone detection at a lower cost than standard systems used by agencies like Cal Fire.
Jeremy Bruce from Operation BBQ Relief described how his organization uses Amazon’s resources to track food trucks and coordinate meal delivery after disasters. “I don’t have the big budgets to buy the big equipment,” Bruce said. “And having partnerships like this has helped us have a great impact.” He also noted: “When you hand someone a hot meal that’s balanced and nutritious, it gives them the fuel and it gives them the hope they need in their worst time to sit and get nourishment and think, ‘This is really good barbecue,’ instead of having to dwell on the negative at that point in time.”
Field tests simulating disaster conditions have been conducted by Amazon volunteers in remote locations such as West Virginia. These exercises demonstrated that individuals with minimal technical training could use the kits effectively.
Abe Diaz, head of Amazon’s disaster relief team, outlined future plans: “We want to put these tools in the hands of communities who need them before a disaster hits.” By 2026, Amazon aims to train more than 140 volunteers and deploy dozens of kits through nonprofit partners focused on under-resourced groups including volunteer fire departments and food banks.
Amazon continues its commitment by working with organizations such as Operation BBQ Relief—which has served over 11 million meals since its founding—to help expand access to vital services during disasters.
