Game-Changing Tech for Disaster and Emergency Operations

In trauma care, the first 60 minutes is referred to as the "golden hour," which can determine life or death from an injury. Disaster response operates on a similar principle since every second counts. Decisions made in this critical time impact countless individuals, entire communities, and critical infrastructure. That’s why having the right support to make these decisions is so essential.

Tools like drones represent this type of support on multiple levels. They aren’t limited to simple tasks but can instead anticipate your next move or adapt to chaos and change things for the better. Drones are rewriting the playbook on disaster response and wildfire management with unprecedented efficiency, showcasing why they’re becoming the unsung heroes of disaster response and crisis situations. Whether it's navigating wildfires, mapping terrain, or providing a real-time view of unfolding disasters, drones are turning dangerous, time-consuming missions into streamlined, life-saving operations. 

However, just having a drone isn’t enough; deploying the technology with purpose makes all the difference when it comes to how it can meaningfully impact decisions that have short and long term ramifications. From pinpointing hot spots to assessing damage after the smoke clears, drones are transforming how teams and entire organizations respond when seconds matter most.

Drones in Emergency Response: When Every Second Matters

Drones have become game-changers for disaster management, slashing response times and boosting situational awareness. With new drone technology designed to handle wind, rain and even dead of night situations,  drones are stepping in where human eyes and hands fall short. They deliver real-time intel straight from the scene, helping emergency teams deploy the right people and equipment faster, smarter, and safer. In other words, drones are giving agencies the crystal-clear situational awareness they need to make split-second tactical decisions.  

Skydio solutions have been utilized to provide public safety offices with a new level of safety thanks to their DFR (Drone as First Responder) program their DFR program. It’s something the Oklahoma City Police Department has done to help facilitate and expedite response to calls across a large geographic area. The Drones help officers quickly get eyes on any situation, allowing them to increase safety for first responders and the communities they serve.

The possibilities around improved response times, enhanced situational awareness, and increased safety during storms will be specifically explored during the upcoming “When Disaster Strikes” session. Attendees will be able to see how Alaska DOT and Baltimore Gas & Electric have prepared for, and will respond to, future extreme weather event they’ll inevitably have to deal with, outlining what others can learn for they prepare for and approach having efficient response.

And it’s not just emergencies—drones are revolutionizing regular inspections, too, helping prevent future disasters by catching potential issues early. Organizations such as Alaska DOT and Idaho Power are using drones to stay ahead of the next extreme weather event, providing a blueprint for anyone looking to up their disaster response game. 

Drones for Asset Inspection: Creating Efficiencies and Enabling Safety 

Drones aren’t just on standby for emergency response—they’re working 24/7. While they’re ready to spring into action when disaster strikes, they also shine in day-to-day operations, making routine inspections and post-disaster assessments not only more frequent, but safer and more efficient. Why wait for a problem to escalate when drones can be scheduled for regular checks, catching issues before they snowball into disasters? Incorporating drones into routine operations as a preventative safety measure keeps the system running smoothly and reduces risks for utility teams.

Utility teams across industries—from hydro to nuclear—have experienced this firsthand. Dominion Energy, for example, has tapped into the power of remote drone inspections, allowing their team to monitor assets from an office chair instead of climbing up towers or scaling down structures. No ropes, no scaffolding, just seamless oversight. This leap in efficiency and safety takes  center stage at the Ascend keynote, the latest drone technologies will demonstrate how they solve complex asset inspection challenges.  See how drones can transform inspections into a proactive, always-on approach that extends across the entire organization, unlocking possibilities that go far beyond traditional methods.

Drones for You: What Will Adoption Look Like for Your Team

Driven by customer needs, Ascend 2024 was created to showcase how drones are used to navigate disasters and emergency situations TODAY. Not sometime in the future. In addition, it will feature how customers have navigated the regulation requirements when starting a program in their organization, and how to get support to do so. Ranging from autonomous flight capabilities to seamless real-time data integration to remote communication, the opening keynote of at Ascend, will highlight the difference that these capabilities have made to allow users to do everything from better protection for their communities to keep their teams safe to improve response times.

Fully understanding how to take advantage of these capabilities is also a major consideration, which is why Ascend will feature a live Q&A with Skydio experts.  By hearing directly from the engineers designing the drones for the missions that matter most, attendees will be able to explore and discuss what it means for them to build drone programs at scale. Additionally, live demos will show the technology in action and help attendees understand what it means to deploy missions “from an office chair”.

Seeing is Believing: Define the Missions that Matter Most

The hype and possibility that was associated with drone technology has fully been replaced with reality, as drones that have been purpose-built for the most important missions are making a real-world impact. Drone solutions are creating tangible value by addressing needs in sectors ranging from emergency response to infrastructure, solving process and workflow challenges that would otherwise create issues in the short and long term. Whether it’s remotely deploying an inspection mission or saving lives from an office chair, organizations like yours are rewriting their playbook and including drone technologies in a big way. The future is here, see what’s possible today.

Resources:

Unlocking the Night: Skydio X10's NightSense Technology https://www.skydio.com/blog/unlocking-the-night-skydio-x10-s-nightsense-technology?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=emg_cuav_sponsorship&utm_id=article_sep2024

Learn more on DFR (Drone as First Responder) for public safety https://www.skydio.com/solutions/public-safety/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=emg_cuav_sponsorship&utm_id=article_sep2024

OKCPD brings its Drone as First Responder program to the state fair https://www.skydio.com/customer-stories/oklahoma-city-police-department?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=emg_cuav_sponsorship&utm_id=article_sep2024

What’s Ascend 2024? https://airborne.skydio.com/public/events/ascend2024?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=emg_cuav_sponsorship&utm_id=article_sep2024

Learn more on drones for energy and utilities https://www.skydio.com/solutions/energy-and-utilities/power-generation-asset-inspection?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=emg_cuav_sponsorship&utm_id=article_sep2024

Dominion Energy: Asset Inspection, From An Office Chair https://airborne.skydio.com/public/videos/dominion-energy-asset-inspection-from-an-office-chair-2024-08-07?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=emg_cuav_sponsorship&utm_id=article_sep2024