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Agreement of cooperation establishes framework for preparedness, response, and resilience initiatives supporting the use of UAS and GIS for public safety and emergency management
ARLINGTON, TX – The Public Safety Unmanned Response Team North Texas (PSURTNTX), a Texas-based non-profit organization comprised of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) remote pilots from regional public safety entities, and AIRT, a Florida-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization that serves as the official home of DRONERESPONDERS, the world’s fasted-growing non-profit program supporting public safety UAS, today announced the signing of an agreement of cooperation to support the use of UAS for public safety and emergency management missions.
Under the agreement, PSURTNTX and AIRT will work together to develop emergency preparedness, response, and resilience capabilities between one another, and among select partner organizations. The objective is to create a robust network of drone responders and geographic information systems (GIS) experts capable of rendering direct assistance and location intelligence during complex emergencies, rapidly expanding incidents, and major disasters.
“Increased communication and cooperation are essential to the successful deployment of drones and other unmanned systems in support of public safety operations,” said Travis Calendine, chairperson of the Public Safety Unmanned Response Team North Texas. “Our partnership with AIRT and the DRONERESPONDERS program will help bolster our capability to serve the North Texas region and beyond during times of significant emergencies and disasters.”
PSURTNTX has established a strong reputation based on its subject matter experts and response operations supporting UAS. AIRT and DRONERESPONDERS have quickly established a national presence supporting Drones For Good. That presence is expanding weekly. Calendine sees the two organizations as a natural fit for one another as partners. Christopher Todd, executive director of AIRT, agrees.
“Very few organizations have the experience and credibility of PSURTNTX in conducting public safety UAS operations,” says Todd. “We look forward to building this new relationship as we look toward another season of potentially deadly tornados, floods, hurricanes, and other disasters.”
Aside from the capacity to successfully execute world-class UAS operations, the organizations will work together on community outreach activities, training initiatives, and increasing the use of GIS tools in their product deliverables to provide better location intelligence to first responders and emergency management professionals.
Todd says several initiatives between PSURTNTX and AIRT are presently in the development stage, with additional news expected in the coming weeks. The two organizations will work together to support the DRONERESPONDERS Emergency Management and Disaster Forum at the Energy Drone Coalition & Summit in Houston, Texas on July 10, 2020.
“It’s really about pushing out well beyond our respective comfort zones to make sure we are embracing the latest tools and technology in the unmanned systems space,” says Charles Werner, director of DRONERESPONDERS. “This collaborative effort will help advance the public safety UAS sector in support of the Whole Community.”
About AIRT
AIRT® (Airborne International Response Team) is a Miami, Florida-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization that facilitates Drones For Good™ for complex emergencies and major disasters. AIRT is the official home of DRONERESPONDERS, the world’s fastest growing non-profit program supporting public safety UAS. Our global remote pilot network is ready to #getup whenever disaster strikes. For more information, visit: http://airt.ngo or http://droneresponders.org
About Public Safety Unmanned Response Team North Texas
The mission of the Public Safety Unmanned Response Team North Texas is to provide professional UAS assistance to jurisdictions and emergency operations centers in support of their response, relief, and immediate recovery efforts during emergencies and disasters. The team consists of 50 members through over 25 public safety agencies that support mission in the greater Dallas/ Fort Worth Area.