Public Safety officials in Atlantic City are turning to drone technology to keep residents and visitors safe. The technology gives rescue teams quicker intelligence and real time situational awareness. Through the drones, officials can let people know not to swim in the water after guarded hours, drop inflatable rescue devices to distressed swimmers and let those swimmers know further help is on the way, and through thermal imaging capability, detect locations of sharks in the water or lost swimmers.

 

Public safety units under mission command of the Atlantic City Office of Emergency Management – including the Atlantic City Fire Department Drone Unit, Atlantic City Beach Patrol and Surf Rescue teams, along with members of the Atlantic County Office of Emergency Management and the Atlantic City Police Department -- conducted flight exercises on October 10th on Atlantic City’s Mississippi Avenue beach. This was in collaboration with the National Aerospace Research and Technology Park (NARTP) and the New Jersey Smart Airport and Aviation Partnership (SAAP), and sponsored by the Atlantic County Economic Alliance (ACEA).

 

“The Atlantic City Beach Patrol and our Office of Emergency Management do an outstanding job protecting swimmers on our beaches,” said Scott Evans, Atlantic City Fire Chief and OEM Coordinator. “But with several miles of beach to patrol, millions of swimmers entering the water annually, and sometimes potentially dangerous surf and rip currents to deal with, every available resource helps. Drone technology can expand the reach and reduce the response time of lifeguards and public safety crews responsible. We are a proud leader in the use of drones to enhance public safety.”

 

The October 10th demonstrations included an inflatable device drop from the drone, with a staged distressed swimmer, who was then rescued by a lifeguard on a jet ski. These beach/flight simulations are part of an ongoing series of emergency management exercises focused on enhancing public safety that began in 2017 in Cape May County. The exercises are planned to continue, featuring both local and other first responders, including the United States Coast Guard, expected in early 2024.

 

The Atlantic City Beach Patrol is expected to have regular deployment of drones in time for the Summer of 2024.