The acquisition followed the participation of a Statia delegation in the 39th Annual Governor’s Hurricane Conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, in May 2025. The conference brought together emergency management professionals and first responders to exchange knowledge and strengthen hurricane preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation. During the conference, the Crisis Manager explored how drone technology could support emergency response on the island. The two drones were subsequently purchased in June 2026.
The drones will be used primarily for search and rescue operations and can also support the Fire Department, Police, ambulance services and other essential services during emergencies.
For a small island such as Statia, where some areas can be difficult to reach quickly, having this capability available locally provides an important operational advantage. Trained personnel can use the drones to search difficult-to-access areas, assess incident scenes, identify access routes and gather aerial information before responders are deployed.
The drones are also equipped with thermal imaging technology, which can detect heat signatures and assist emergency teams in locating people during search and rescue operations, including in darkness or low-visibility conditions. This can be particularly useful when searching terrain that is difficult to cover quickly on foot.
In situations where a helicopter is not required, an initial aerial search or assessment can be carried out locally without first having to request and coordinate external helicopter support. The drones are not intended to replace helicopters for evacuation, transport or specialised rescue operations, but provide an additional resource that can be deployed quickly when appropriate.
The technology can also support the island following a hurricane or other major incident. Aerial information can assist emergency teams in assessing affected areas, checking infrastructure and access routes and identifying locations that may require closer inspection before personnel and equipment are deployed.
As part of the acquisition package, three participants received specialised training in Miami, Florida, from 2 to 5 August 2026. The training covered the safe operation of the two DJI Matrice drones, account setup, aircraft features and settings, flight procedures and hardware and software maintenance.
Participants were also introduced to DJI Terra, which will be used to process and analyse aerial data captured by the drones through mapping, photogrammetry and three-dimensional modelling. This provides emergency teams with another way to assess and visualise information collected during emergency and recovery operations.
The acquisition forms part of Statia Government’s continued efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and provide emergency services with practical tools that can be deployed quickly when needed.
