Local governments join forces to mobilize DroneDeploy in tornado response

In April 2024, Elkhorn, Nebraska was struck by a powerful EF4 tornado that destroyed 183 homes and damaged 335 more.

Fortunately, despite the widespread devastation, there were no casualties. In response to the Tornado, multiple government agencies came together including  the Omaha Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Papillion Police Department, Douglas County Emergency Management and Douglas County GIS. They joined forces to capture, analyze and share extensive mapping data to assist in recovery and response efforts.

The power of high-res aerial imagery

The operation began early on the Saturday following the tornado. Sergeant Tyler Friend, a drone pilot from the Omaha Police Department, and his team used DJI and Autel drones to capture high-resolution images across the impacted area. 

Using DroneDeploy for much of the flight planning using DroneDeploy Aerial, they were able to automate the capture of data. The teams gathered over 17,000 images, dividing the region into sectors to streamline the data collection process. Individual entities had used drones in response to previous events, like flooding, wind storms and the College World Series event had prepared the team for this work. But this response represented the largest coordinated drone response project for the local governments. 

“Our response was a coordinated effort, leveraging the strengths of both the Police departments and the County government. The Police brought their extensive experience with drone technology, while the County contributed their advanced GIS expertise. Together, we produced highly effective data that benefited response teams and ultimately the public”

- Tyler Friend, Sergeant, Omaha Police Department

Transforming drone imagery into accessible, actionable maps

Once images were captured, the GIS team worked to process the images using photogrammetry platforms. They stitched the images using DroneDeploy, as well as a variety of other industry tools to combine into a final orthomosaic map. 

This massive image mosaic was then shared publicly through the Douglas County GIS department’s website (www.dogis.org/tornado), providing accessible visuals to government agencies and FEMA for recovery coordination. The drone imagery, combined with on-the-ground data collection, allowed teams to pinpoint damage that couldn’t be seen at ground level, like roof damage, which was critical for comprehensive assessments.

Rapid drone imagery assessments are a growing standard for disaster response. The United Nations Development Program used DroneDeploy in response to Hurricane Iota in 2020, and Disaster Relief Australia has deployed the technology on over 50 missions since 2019. Features like LiveMap that provides field-edge insight into drone data, plus easily sharable cloud-hosted orthomosaics, makes DroneDeploy a common tool for these scenarios. DroneDeploy supports disaster response work through DroneDeploy.org, the philanthropic arm of the company focused on making an impact through conservation, crisis response and community development. 

When FEMA arrived to respond to the Tornado, the local government response team had already captured a detailed aerial view of the damage, giving emergency responders a head start. Roof damage and other subtle structural issues required additional mapping to identify accurately. 

As Steve Cacioppo, Douglas County GIS drone pilot continued to refine the map, he shared the information with the public via the 211 system, ensuring residents could see where the tornado had struck hardest. This transparency proved vital for community awareness and safety, as Douglas County emergency officials used the data to guide response efforts and manage resources.

Learn how drones are aiding disaster recovery and conservation efforts around the globe.

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