WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — White County Public Safety has placed a new weather-resistant drone into service to assist emergency crews across the county.
The aircraft was purchased using Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds approved by the White County Board of Commissioners.
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It replaces earlier models and features upgraded thermal imaging that detects heat signatures through darkness, smoke and dense tree cover. It is also equipped with a live loudspeaker, so first responders can give instructions directly to individuals being rescued.
Emergency Management Division Chief Don Strength will pilot the drone on public safety missions.
The drone is available for public safety missions throughout White County, including in Cleveland and Helen. It can also be deployed across the region upon request by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.
White County Public Safety Director David Murphy highlighted the voter-supported funding that made the acquisition possible.
“This drone is a direct return on the investment our voters made through SPLOST,” Murphy said. “It gives our responders a faster, safer way to see what they are walking into and it helps us find people who need help sooner. We are also glad that it is a resource our neighbors can count on, not just White County.”
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The drone provides aerial views of hard-to-reach locations during wildland and structure fires, helping incident commanders track fire spread, hot spots and access routes.
During severe weather, the aircraft will be used to assess storm damage, flooding, downed trees and power lines while feeding real-time situational awareness to the Emergency Operations Center.
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