-News Release-
Photo Credit: Amy Dawkins, Floyd County Government. Pictured: Melissa Free (Georgia Power) and Chris Fincher (Floyd County EMA)
Drone operations are changing the way emergency managers respond to disasters in North Georgia.
Thanks to the generosity of Georgia Power, the Floyd County Emergency Management Agency recently made a tremendous upgrade in its response capability.
“At Georgia Power, we’ve seen firsthand how drones can enhance safety, improve situational awareness and help teams respond more effectively during emergencies,” said Melissa Free, Region Executive for Georgia Power. “From inspecting infrastructure to assessing storm damage and supporting restoration efforts, this technology has become an invaluable tool to us at Georgia Power.”
The new EMA drone is equipped with a thermal camera, obstacle avoidance, a laser rangefinder, and is rated for weather durability. Likely the most underrated feature is batteries that can be changed while the drone is in operation. In recent months, the drone has been used for missing person searches and to provide images from damage assessments. In other cases, the drone was used to assist police with crash investigations and to assist with fire operations. These emergency deployments were made wholly possible because of a $11,000 corporate sponsorship grant from Georgia Power.
“Many of the counties that surround us are already using drones for search and rescue, and thanks to the generosity of Georgia Power we are now better able to help our community,” said Chris Fincher, deputy director of the Emergency Management Agency.
Because the EMA drone is weather-rated, it can better withstand inclement weather and allows for faster damage assessments during poor conditions. Plans are underway to add digital night vision as well, which would further bolster night operations.
“We’re proud to support Floyd County Emergency Management’s efforts to strengthen its response capabilities because being a Citizen Wherever We Serve means helping our communities be as safe, prepared and resilient as possible,” Free said.
Drone operators for the Emergency Management Agency are licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration and must comply with established rules and procedures.
