These waivers let specially sanctioned operators fly in the airspace, but operators still have to follow the basic regulations for small drones: flying below 400 feet and within the pilot's line of sight, and not over large crowds of people. Drones are deployable within minutes, and can enter areas that put emergency responders at risk.
In addition to emergency response, public utility groups are assessing damage to the levees and other areas in Houston using drone surveillance.