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COVERAGE AREA

Electric vehicle

Use Case- Longevity

USE CASES - Longevity

Scenario Overview:
In this extended emergency scenario, a major tornado has struck a region, causing widespread destruction, fuel shortages, and communication failures. Responders are facing additional challenges as fuel trucks, crucial for generator refueling, are having grave difficulty responding due to massive traffic congestion and obstacles across roadways. This compounded crisis requires a coordinated and adaptive response.

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Scenario Details:

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Disaster Impact:

  • A powerful tornado has left a path of destruction across a large radius, affecting both urban and rural areas.

  • Electric power is down, and all fueling stations are inoperable.

  • Communication infrastructure has been severely compromised, except for FirstNet.
     

Incident Description (Continued):

  • Initial generator use exhausted available fuel, leaving responders without backup power or communication.

  • Children are trapped inside the collapsed school building.

  • Fuel trucks have been requested to replenish generator fuel, but they are encountering significant obstacles en route.
     

Response Actions (Including Traffic Obstacles):

  1. Initial Disaster Assessment (incident commander):

    • Continue to evaluate the extent of the damage across the affected region, including areas inaccessible to responders.
       

  2. Search and Rescue (rescue teams):

    • Maintain efforts to prioritize the rescue of trapped children while facing communication challenges.

    • Navigate obstacles and traffic congestion to reach the collapsed school building.
       

  3. Shelter and First Aid Centers (emergency management):

    • Utilize available resources and FirstNet communication for shelter coordination.

    • Establish alternative shelters if needed to accommodate displaced residents.
       

  4. Resource Management (logistics chief):

    • Prioritize the deployment of available resources, including fuel, to essential locations.

    • Collaborate with traffic management authorities to clear routes for fuel trucks.
       

  5. Communication (communications officer):

    • Continue maximizing the use of FirstNet for critical communication among responders.

    • Establish relay points for communication to bridge communication gaps in areas with signal issues.
       

  6. Fuel Supply and Transport (logistics chief):

    • Coordinate with local law enforcement to clear obstructed roadways and facilitate the movement of fuel trucks.

    • Identify alternative routes for fuel truck access if primary routes are impassable.
       

  7. Public Safety (incident commander):

    • Adapt response plans to address the evolving challenges posed by traffic congestion and obstacles.

    • Ensure responders receive updates on road conditions and obstacles to adjust their routes accordingly.
       

  8. Community Support (city leaders and community leaders):

    • Mobilize community resources to assist in clearing obstacles and managing traffic congestion.

    • Prioritize the safety of community volunteers and support staff involved in recovery efforts.
       

  9. Recovery and Restoration (city leaders and emergency management):

    • Develop a long-term recovery plan that considers the impact of traffic obstacles on infrastructure repair and restoration.

    • Collaborate with state and federal agencies for specialized assistance and resource allocation.
       

Conclusion:
This compounded disaster scenario presents a severe challenge, with traffic congestion and obstacles hindering the response, including fuel supply and communication efforts. Responders must adapt to the evolving challenges while maintaining a focus on rescuing trapped individuals, managing shelters, and restoring critical services. Coordination, resource management, and adaptability remain crucial elements in managing this complex emergency.

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Example of regional tornado:
Ohio town struck by tornado - aftermath
How could AFRS fire pilots benefit this scenario?
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Hybrid Public Safety Vehicles
AFRS solely utilizes hybrid vehicles.   This allows a single AFRS vehicle to power all of our robotic devices, and voice/data communications equipment for up to four (4) continuous days of operation without refueling.

 

Redundant Communication
AFRS vehicles use advanced wireless technology that allows us to leverage voice/data links from multiple cellular carriers including Firstnet.

 

In addition to staying live during most disasters, our onboard vehicle wireless system allows for multiple secure connections to benefit all parties. 

For example:

AFRS can manage all of our own internal data/voice needs.

We expose a WiFi and wired connection for incident command staff.

We expose a WiFi connection for the general public to send urgent messages to concerned loved ones.

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FAA Collaboration
AFRS maintains a close relationship with the FAA, enabling rapid requests for Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) around emergency scenes. This preserves airspace for incident command operations.

 

Interagency Communication
Unlike private drone pilots, AFRS maintains a contract with MARCS.  Where MARCS allows your dispatch center and field staff to easily communicate with responding agencies like AFRS.
 

Rapid Response
AFRS, when in full operation, can mobilize up to four additional pilots who can arrive on the scene within approximately 30 minutes.  This is due to our strategic coverage areas and preplanning measures.
 

Enhanced Visual Capability
The AFRS video within this article shows clearly the benefits of having an eye in the sky.

 

Not only is the drone not blinded by the fire like the ground team, the drone can clearly see all embers and hot spots that may create additional risk or expand the scope of this incident.

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Thermal Imaging
AFRS's thermal imaging technology can easily see the embers and new fires that are starting to develop.

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Effective Public Address System
In the event this fire would have continued to spread, AFRS pilots could easily create PA speaker messages to be broadcasted from the sky.   Where this would help alert nearby campers, hikers, and others in the path of danger.

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All-Weather Equipment
AFRS employs enterprise-level public safety drones capable of operating in various weather conditions, including rain, snow, high winds, and freezing temperatures.

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Continuous Flight Time

Each AFRS pilot carries sufficient batteries and onboard mobile charging to maintain near-continuous flight. Quick battery swaps allow for a 45-second downtime.

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Seamless Collaboration

AFRS vehicles are equipped with redundant internet connections, utilizing Firstnet and other data providers. This ensures secure streaming of content to incident command staff and stakeholders anywhere in the world.

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Documentation and Review
All drone footage is recorded for post-incident analysis. Detailed video timestamps and coordinates enable easy documentation of important milestones.
 

This data can prove to be valuable for reimbursement from insurance companies or for court purposes.

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Training Resources
Archived videos remain accessible for years after the incident. This valuable resource allows your team to incorporate real-life scenarios into future training sessions and benefits first responders worldwide.

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DONATIONS

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VOLUNTEERS

YOU MATTER! Join AFRS and Make a Difference ​ At AFRS, we believe that many hands make light work, and your talents and wisdom can help us provide amazing emergency services to those in need. ​ We take pride in offering remote-friendly opportunities, respecting the time you dedicate to others. In many cases, you can volunteer from the comfort of your home. ​ Please note that all volunteers are subject to background checks and license verification where applicable.   Interested persons should send their resume and cover letter to todd.may@afrs.us ​ ​ Current Volunteer Positions Available: ​ BOARD MEMBERS Our bylaws require all board members to have active/retired experience in Fire, EMS, peace officers, military, or be actively employed by a national infrastructure organization (hospital, transportation, utilities, etc). ​ Board members should be able to: Effectively communicate Work remotely Participate in committees Promote AFRS Attend monthly meetings (remotely) ​ Board members can expect: Regular email communication Attendance at monthly online board meetings Acting in the best interest of AFRS Occasional attendance at functions or group meetings with AFRS customers/vendors Minimum term of office: 3 years The ideal candidate for this position would have prior board experience and uphold high moral standards. FIREFIGHTERS AFRS relies on Ohio certified firefighters to operate our public safety grade drones. Fire pilots should be able to: Perform regular firefighter duties.  - Waivers may be possible in some cases Work remotely without direct supervision Attend monthly meetings (remotely) Operate electronic devices and computers Hold an active Fire 1/2 certification Hold or obtain an FAA 107 pilot's license with night ops certification Have a clean driving record and valid driver's license Function in high-stress environments and dynamic situations ​ Fire pilots can expect: 12-hour shifts (0600-1800 or 1800-0600) No more than 36 hours of volunteer/work per week Exposure to elements and dynamic situations Rewarding training and experiences Life insurance and LOD benefits Disability/injury benefits Remote-friendly environment in many cases Leadership buy-in and genuine appreciation Live drone prophecy test ​ The ideal candidate for this position would be a certified firefighter who holds a FAA 107 license and NFPA 2400 training. ​ Considerations will be made to train up the right candidates to become drone pilots and obtain their NFPA 2400 training. ​ Candidates should also be passionate about their community and eager to learn new technologies that enhance public safety. ​ ​ DISPATCHERS AFRS recognizes the vital role that dispatchers play in our success. They are the "voice" that enables amazing things to happen within our organization. ​ AFRS dispatchers have the ability to work from home anywhere in the United States. ​ Dispatchers should be able to: Effectively communicate via voice, text, and email Have moderate or advanced computer skills Work alone and unsupervised without micro-management Adhere to policies and procedures Provide a stable/reliable internet connection from home Provide a stable/reliable Windows PC, Chromebook, or Android tablet Maintain a quiet background when handling telephone or radio activities Utilize web-based tools such as Google Maps, Open Maps, weather apps, chat, video conference, and others ​ Dispatchers can expect: Flexible shifts that suit your availability No more than 36 hours per week Fast-paced and rewarding environment Communicating with other government agencies on recorded lines Remote-friendly environment for anyone based in the US Leadership that truly values your contributions Making a difference in others' lives and enhancing community safety Regular training and one-on-one mentoring ​ Ideal candidates for this position include individuals passionate about serving the public and eager to learn new skills. ​ ​ SOCIAL MEDIA / VIDEO EDITING AFRS's emergency robotics capture a vast amount of data, including photos and videos that may need to be processed for marketing, fundraising, and training purposes. ​ This remote-friendly position is open to volunteers anywhere in the United States. ​ Social media volunteers should be able to: Perform post-processing of video content Interact with various social media platforms (TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.) Process messages and respond professionally Review statistical data from each social media platform and relay trends to leadership Create slideshows or collections for gallery display or training purposes Resize, edit, crop, and alter images and video Attend monthly membership meetings Accomplish tasks without direct supervision ​ Social media volunteers can expect: Flexible schedules that fit your life No more than 36 hours per week Team environment Remote-friendly - Work from home ​ Interested persons should send their resume and cover letter to todd.may@afrs.us

Image by Andrew Gaines
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