Lee County Public Safety installs autonomous drones to help with storm recovery

Lee County is deploying drones and installing docks to speed up disaster recovery efforts, enabling quicker damage assessments and keeping first responders safe.

Benjamin Abes, Lee County public safety director, said drones have been used in special situations over the years, including documenting damage after hurricanes. “Over the last couple of years, we've been flying these drones across the community in special situations,” Abes said.

The county recorded drone footage following Hurricane Milton in 2024, which Abes said provides a clearer picture of the damage compared to other methods.

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“It's one thing to hear it over the radio or to get a quick text message with an image. It's another thing to actually see it in real time and in person,” Abes said.

To expand their capabilities, Lee County has installed multiple drone docks in strategic locations over the past year.

“And we're looking to expand that as we get more grant funding that allows us to immediately launch those drones and put eyes on the situation versus trying to get somebody to that area,” Abes said.

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The first dock was installed at the Lee County Public Safety Center last fall, and five more have since been added, including one at Station 172 on Sanibel.

Fire Chief Kevin Barbot said the new dock at the recently renovated fire station provides immediate aerial views during emergencies.

“We're able to dispatch this, launch it, and get a bird's-eye view immediately,” Barbot said.

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Human pilots operate the drones remotely, and launching them from docks along the coast can significantly speed up storm recovery.

“Instead of waiting a day or two to get the right resources contracted and out there, in a couple of hours, we were under contract and the contractor was mobilizing resources to get out there and make the repairs,” Abes said.

Abes explained that each drone system, including the dock, costs about $100,000, with the drone itself priced at $25,000 and the dock at $75,000.

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“I've been really fortunate because we've been able to get grant funds to pay for the deployment of the docks as well as the drones that we have in our arsenal today,” Abes said.

The drones can stay airborne for about 30 minutes, depending on wind conditions, and take another 30 minutes to recharge once they return to the dock.

Abes said the footage collected by the drones helps justify claims for reimbursement from FEMA, improving the speed and accuracy of the process.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW OF HURRICANE MILTON RECOVERY:

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“And that really means that we can get that footage and that documentation to FEMA to better justify our claims for reimbursement. Not only does that improve the speed with which we get reimbursed, but it also helps us to justify the claims and actually secure the reimbursement for the taxpayers,” Abes said.

The county is also working on a transparency dashboard that will allow the public to view every drone flight conducted by the county. The site is still under development.