UAV’s for Incident Commanders

Kevin Hardwick Tom Lakamp

Learning Objectives

n  Types of Incidents for UAV use n  Benefits of UAV’s at incidents n  Liabilities and drawbacks to UAV’s n  How to fit UAV’s into the ICS structure n  How to utilize UAV information in the IAP n  UAV Necessity???

Types of Incidents

n  Large Fires-Urban n  Large Fires-Wildland n  Hazardous Materials Incidents n  Technical Rescue/US&R n  Natural Disasters n  EMS Response n  Aircraft Incidents

Large Fires - Urban

Warehouse –  Define Scope/Situational Awareness –  Locate fire –  Determine location for attack –  Defensive positions –  Lingering Hotspots (Video)

High Rise Fires

n  Situational Awareness n  Fire Floor/Roof n  Potential Victims n  Fire progression n  Attack progress

Wildland

n  Fixed Wing vs. Rotary Wing n  Scope n  Fire Travel n  Crew status/location n  Structures threatened n  Potential victims n  Aircraft Hazards/Limitations

Hazardous Materials/EOD

n  Recon n  Air Sampling n  Plume verification

Technical Rescue/Search/Water

n  Optical/IR Sensors n  Piloted or Autonomous

Flight n  Local Experience

–  Critical missing STFD –  Drowning – Great Miami X3 –  Jumper –  Boat in distress

Natural Disasters

n  Flooding n  Tornado n  Earthquake/Building

Collapse n  Information for declaration

EMS Response n  Mass Casualty n  Active Shooter

Aircraft Incidents

n  High Impact Crash n  Low Impact Crash n  Debris Field n  Transponder Location

Benefits of UAV’s

n  Ability to see beyond ground position n  Ability to utilize Thermal Imaging Technology n  Ability to record findings n  Keeping responders from hazard area n  Allows a point of reference for responders n  Can be utilized at the mobile command post and

transmitted to EOC

Liabilities and Drawbacks

n  Federal Regulations & the COA n  Must ensure coordination and proper operation to

prevent danger to responders and community n  Privacy laws n  Possible need to track evidence

– FOIA Laws – Record Retention Laws

n  Immunity/Insurance Requirements

How to Fit UAV’s into ICS Structure n  Air Operations Branch for Operations

– Managed by Air Operations Branch Director – Understands FAA and other flight rules –  Can coordinate UAV’s Helicopters, and other aircraft –  Access to proper radio frequencies

n  Planning Section – Data can be combined with other incident data to support IAP – Data can be stored by Documentation Unit Leader –  Check-in the UAV through Resource Unit Leader

How to Utilize UAV information in the IAP n  Ideally data utilized by Situation Unit Leader In the

Planning Section – Data can be combined with other incident data to support

IAP n Mapping/Video

– Data can be stored by Documentation Unit Leader – Check-in the UAV through Resource Unit Leader – Video utilized for Operational Briefing

Do we all need one????

n  Use Statistics! n  Duplication of resources n  Operator Currency/

Experience

Questions?