The rapid advancement of public safety technology is reshaping how emergency response agencies operate, especially in the wake of natural disasters. No doubt LEO satellites and drones saved lives in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, but they are very new technologies for public safety. How did they so quickly capture national attention in political debates, White House press releases, nightly news, and TechCrunch?
Their stuff works, they gained trust, and they built a community.
Authentic Engagement is Crucial
These technologies have spent time in the trenches, championed by several mission-driven companies - proving the technology works with early adopters, developing partnerships, educating regulators, and most importantly showing up when needed. They were slowly on the cusp of “crossing the chasm” in the public safety market.
Then Hurricane Helene hit on September 26th. The historic Category 4 storm wiped out roads and communications infrastructure across several states. In fact, on October 3rd, ten counties in North Carolina still had 50% or more cell sites down.
Volunteers, first responders, and federal agencies all deployed Starlink and drones. Most importantly, in the midst of the chaos, the companies showed up. Starlink resellers delivered equipment, Elon Musk went to bat for his engineers, federal and state agencies were ready with equipment and trained personnel, and drone pilots showed up on scene and even operated remotely.
Starlink
Initially developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX for providing high-speed internet to remote areas, Starlink proved to be a critical lifeline for first responders and affected communities during and after recent disasters in Guam, Hawaii and Alaska.
Within days of Hurricane Helene making landfall, FEMA had supplied more than 60 Starlink units across several states, with North Carolina alone receiving 40 units. The White House announced that Starlink was deployed in county Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) to assist with communications and continuity of government. FEMA touted Starlink’s portability, light weight, and support for 100 users as means for rapid connectivity in a national press release.
Then, in preparations for Hurricane Milton the next week, both the White House and the State of Florida listed Starlink as essential equipment on standby for storm response and recovery. Florida was ready with 58 Starlink units and the FAA Communication Support Team (CST) “set up Starlink and Mobile Bonding kits [to] increase signal stability and data throughout the region.”
Starlink showed up and most importantly it worked when nothing else did in a time of critical need.
Skyfire AI
Much like Starlink, drones took center stage In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. They were used extensively for search and rescue missions, damage assessments, and even delivering supplies to hard-to-reach areas. With roads impassable due to flooding and debris, their bird’s-eye view allowed officials to assess damage more efficiently and direct resources where they were needed most.
Skyfire AI has been working with public safety for almost a decade setting up drone programs. They have built significant trust and partnerships across the country, most notably in the southeast where they’re from. As such, they were quickly on the ground supporting multiple long standing customers. They showed up.
It's not surprising that national nightly news covered Skyfire team members and drones providing emergency responders with a bird's-eye view of the damage, helping prioritize their efforts and identify areas of critical need.
Paladin
Paladin is not a newcomer to public safety tech. The founder has one successful exit under his belt, and when Asheville, North Carolina was hit hard Paladin stepped up and their efforts made it all the way to TechCrunch and a $5.2 million seed round.
The Asheville Police Department was an early adopter of Paladin’s software for remote drone flights. Paladin grinded early and built in partnership with public safety, incorporating a key requirement of drone manufacturer interoperability. It was necessary to build enormous trust, considering Paladin operators would be controlling drones from as far away as Houston.
Founder & CEO Divy Shrivastava nailed it: “I think it has painted a clear picture for me of what the future of the drone industry will look like. We were grateful that Asheville trusted us to help.”
Building a Community of Voices
At FirstWave Strategies, we believe in the power of collaboration between tech innovators and public safety agencies. Technologies like Starlink and drones offer a glimpse into how private companies can partner with public safety officials to save lives. However, these partnerships need a robust support system to navigate regulatory frameworks, manage deployment logistics, and ensure their products are designed with first responders in mind.
FirstWave helps companies create a community of voices within the public safety market. This community is vital for building technologies that are truly responsive to the needs of emergency agencies and the people they serve. By understanding both the technological capabilities and the operational challenges faced by public safety professionals, companies can ensure that their innovations, like Starlink and drones, are not only present when needed but fully integrated into disaster response strategies.
As we’ve seen with Hurricane Helene, these technologies are essential lifelines. The ability to rapidly deploy Starlink units or coordinate drone operations from afar speaks volumes about the future of public safety technology. FirstWave Strategies is committed to guiding tech companies through the intricacies of this evolving landscape, helping them build relationships that ensure their products save lives at the right place and the right time.
Conclusion
This ecosystem takes time and patience to build authentically, but mission-driven companies understand the value of incorporating these voices early in product development and throughout go-to-market motions. As technology becomes trusted, and used more often, it will inevitably save a life and your ecosystem of voices will propel that story to national attention and your product past the chasm.
As the public safety sector continues to evolve, FirstWave Strategies is here to help tech companies navigate this landscape, building communities of innovators and early adopters that will shape the future of public safety technology.
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