Drones Helped SMFR Tackle a Hazmat Incident After Hurricane

Synopsis

In the aftermath of a hurricane, first responders face wide-ranging responsibilities, from search and rescue and storm damage documentation to ongoing management of vital resources such as fuel. In this video, Southern Manatee Fire Rescue (SMFR) ‪@SMFR911‬ faced a massive hazmat incident in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

The roof of a 4-million gallon fuel storage container sunk, exposing the surrounding area with dangerously high Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as the gasoline vaporized. SMFR responded to the scene with a Skydio X10 to live stream the incident to state officials, provide overwatch for first responders and document the fuel storage site to take vital measurements.

Watch the video to hear Rich Gatanis, SMFR Firefighter/HazMat Technician, UAS Coordinator & C, detail how drone technology was proven indispensable for his department in navigating the challenging emergency.