Mobile surveillance units enhance physical security during natural disasters by offering autonomous, flexible, and effective monitoring and crime deterrence when traditional infrastructure and law enforcement resources are compromised.
Natural disasters create a myriad of extensive executive problems to tackle, including emergency planning, responses, and recovery efforts. Then you add in the earth-shattering realities of the emotional and mental damage people suffer—lost homes, lost lives, even lost loved ones—and the devastating aftermath is as powerful as the natural disaster that caused all of this in the first place.
Common sense would tell us that natural disasters leave the doors wide open (sometimes quite literally) for thieves and looters to run rampant, but it’s actually a widely debated point among those who study disasters.
There’s one side of the coin that says communities tend to pull together after a disaster. Crime rates actually decrease somewhat. People try to take care of one another.
And then there’s the flip side: Crime rates may actually only *appear* to decrease because traditional reporting is messed up as law enforcement joins other emergency responders in rescue and recovery. Theft could just be less noticeable among the damage inflicted by the disaster. And instances like the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina show that looting and burglary can dramatically increase.
In all likelihood, the reality of crime after a natural disaster is something of a mixed bag depending on the severity of the disaster and the community it affects. The criminal aftermath is as unpredictable as the natural disaster itself.
But—whether or not your community would rally or crumble—this tried-and-true advice is worth heeding: Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.
The preparation for physical security in the face of a natural disaster can be difficult. The power grid is often one of the first things to go, and the efforts that are available tend to focus on other aspects of disaster recovery. Fortunately, this is where mobile surveillance units shine.
Mobile surveillance units like the LVT® Unit are security cameras that you can place anywhere the sun shines without the need for infrastructure. These units are essentially small trailers equipped with state-of-the-art solar panels, towering camera mounts, and cellular internet connections, and they offer remote monitoring and advanced detection capabilities.
Because of their off-grid nature and weather-resistant design, mobile surveillance units can bolster physical security even in the face of extreme conditions.
While surveillance cameras provide crucial evidence after a crime, obvious security measures can actually deter would-be criminals from committing the crime in the first place. This effect is known as See-Get-Fear, and it works if the potential perpetrator:
Crime deterrence is especially vital after a natural disaster for areas housing critical supplies such as staging areas. Staging areas, meant to be an area for important supplies and tools, are often in vulnerable locations (since the goal is to have the supplies close to where they are most needed) without much, if any, security in place. Mobile surveillance units, which don’t require infrastructure to operate, can be placed at the staging site for proactive monitoring and to scare off any would-be thieves looking to take advantage of the situation.
LVT Units have been proven to increase feelings of safety and security. This is particularly valuable at a time when people are already in such a vulnerable and emotionally taxing frame of mind.
The actual security offered by video monitoring services is important, but a strong sense of security is just as crucial. The feeling of safety is what provides comfort and peace (because no matter how secure a place might be, if you don’t feel safe there, you won’t feel any level of comfort or peace).
Advanced detection capabilities allow for the triggering of certain responses (such as floodlights and prerecorded messages) when certain parameters are met. This technology also triggers alerts that notify you that there’s an issue that needs to be addressed. Because of the LVT Platform and remote monitoring capabilities, you can check up on these potential problems from any place at any time—something especially helpful when evacuations and blocked roads make it difficult to check in in person.
While you may not be able to intervene physically as quickly as in normal situations, this still allows you take action as much as possible given the limiting and difficult circumstances:
While mobile surveillance systems are already effective monitoring and security solutions, they’ve just taken a leap forward with the implementation of agentic AI. Advanced detection sends filtered alerts when potential problems arise, but agentic AI is able to fully analyze a situation, determine the most appropriate response, and actually implement that response.
The ability to generate customized messages such as “You in the red hat: That [illegal activity] is not allowed here. Leave now” takes security to the next level in all situations, but it’s especially valuable post-disaster as it truly keeps active security onsite and provides next-level crime deterrence.
This fully automatic capability also allows you to focus your efforts into disaster recovery—which is taxing enough without security stressors added in.
The flexibility of mobile surveillance units is one of their greatest assets. Without the need for the (probably downed) power grid, you can skip any time-consuming infrastructure and have your security deployed within minutes.
After a natural disaster, it’s very likely security needs will shift as recovery progresses. Mobile security units allow you to adjust easily, whether that adjustment is the next parking space over or on the other side of the lot.
The effect mobile surveillance units have on a city go beyond just the unit’s immediate surrounding area. According to a study conducted by the Loss Research Prevention Council, two cities saw an overall decrease in crime by 10-13% six months after implementing LVT Units.
Since cities with lower crime and a stronger sense of community tend to rally together more effectively in the face of disaster, it’s a safe bet that the implementation of these mobile security units will improve your odds—even without going into all the ways they can help after natural disasters strike.
Interested in learning more about how an LVT Unit can strengthen security efforts in your community? Contact LiveView Technologies® for a demonstration today!
