The Orange County, N.Y., emergency services department is adopting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to assist in various types of situations.
According to a release from the county, the drones will be used by the department primarily for search-and-rescue missions, response to fires and hazardous-materials spills/incidents, storm/disaster mitigation and evaluation, and other emergency situations.
Licensed UAV operator Alan Mack, who serves as deputy commissioner of emergency services, will oversee the county’s drone program.
On Friday, the department held a public demonstration of the technology in the parking lot of the Orange County Emergency Services Center in Goshen.
