The Pennyrile Area Development District advanced its regional disaster preparedness efforts this week with a hands-on drone training session at its Hopkinsville office.
The training, held July 22, was part of the agency’s ongoing work under the 2023 Disaster Supplemental Funding – Disaster Resiliency Capacity Building Project. That project is supported by a $588,092 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
As part of the initiative, each of the nine Emergency Management offices across the Pennyrile region received a drone. These drones will help local agencies during disasters by providing real-time aerial views, supporting search and rescue operations, and documenting damage.
PeADD officials said the training focused on equipping local emergency personnel with both the tools and skills needed to use the drones effectively in real-world emergencies.
The training also emphasized collaboration and knowledge-sharing among emergency responders, enhancing coordination across the region.
