Drones for Emergency Services

Natural Disasters

Drones are some of the most important tools that can be used for natural disasters. Whether before, during, or after, drones provide valuable data that can quickly help assess the damage caused by natural disasters including hurricane, tornado, tsunami, and earthquakes. Having up to date and accurate imaging of towns, seashores, and susceptible areas allows crews to have a realistic expectation of what to expect. Most aerial maps available for public use can be 3–5 years old, making some areas very out of date and not possible for fast updates after most natural disasters. Aerial imaging and stitching software allow for a quick inspection of areas to determine the best course of action after a major event happens. It is important to understand that these services should only be completed by those in communication with emergency personnel and the managing personnel involved in scheduling rescue and clean up crews as unknown drones flying can cause more damage and delays than they help.

Wild Fires

Wildfires are currently devastating our country and destroying millions of acres of land on our west coast. Drones can be very valuable tools for fire prevention, planning, and recovery. Again, it is extremely important to not fly your drones near wildfires as they can endanger pilots and emergency crews attempting to control and put out the fire. On top of this, it is also illegal to operate a drone near wildfires and should only be completed when in direct communication with the main managing fire fighting crew. Drones are able to capture valuable information to give firefighters a better understanding of the fire and its direction. Aerial imaging can also help understand the extent of the damage and allow citizens to see the extent of the damage caused by the fire for documentation as well as insurance claims.

Evacuation Plans

Aerial imaging and maps are vital components to help buildings, venues, fairs, and stadiums plan for evacuation plans. Using these images they are able to plan exit routes, create evacuation maps for different events, show areas with first aid, and many other features critical to a safe evacuation in the case of an emergency. These simple maps can be created using different software including ArcGIS. This allows for very easy and simple updates to maps when safety protocols and event layouts change. Another great use is to help plan out social distancing protocols and where handwashing statins and other CDC required safety items are kept during the return to normal from Covid.