Flying cell towers to the rescue

YOU'VE JUST SETTLED DOWN on the couch when a sudden jolt rattles you so hard that you spill hot coffee in your lap. The walls of your home split and collapse, pinning you beneath a section of roofing. Then the motion stops. Heart pounding, you reach for the smartphone in your pocket, but when you try to call for help, there's no service. Because the earthquake has demolished the nearest cell tower, first responders are forced to rely on outdated radios and networks as they search the rubble for survivors. The devices carried by police officers can't communicate with those used by firefighters. Walkie-talkies work only at short range. No wonder several homes are searched twice while yours is overlooked.