Manatee County Leverages Technology for Enhanced Emergency Response this Hurricane Season
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — As hurricane season approaches, Manatee County officials are embracing technology to streamline disaster response. For the second consecutive year, the county is collaborating with tech startup Peregrine to consolidate data from multiple sources, enabling first responders to act more swiftly in emergencies.
Following the significant rainfall from Hurricane Debby, Manatee County’s emergency management team partnered with Peregrine to create a comprehensive dashboard integrating vital information like river gauges and pump station locations. “We actually signed the contract just before Hurricane Debby,” said Kyle Stanko, emergency management practice lead for Peregrine, emphasizing the swift deployment that followed.
Last fall marked a crucial phase as the Peregrine team worked alongside county officials to enhance the data integration, creating what Matt Myers, Chief of Emergency Management for Manatee County, described as a “one-stop shop” for first responders. This system eliminates the need for multiple interfaces, allowing for more efficient data access during critical situations.
Innovatively, this season, Manatee County will utilize artificial intelligence to analyze 9-1-1 and 3-1-1 calls in real time, pinpointing specific keywords like “flooding” and mapping incidents as they arise, thereby expediting the response process when time is of the essence.
Stanko praised Manatee County’s forward-thinking approach, stating, “They are one of the truly innovative agencies across the country,” noting that their pioneering program with Peregrine has led to increased interest from other Bay Area counties.
As storm season commences, Manatee County continues to refine its response capabilities, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of emergency management innovation.
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