Florida's public safety agencies operate in one of the most complex emergency response environments in the country. With a mix of urban hubs, vast rural areas, and a high volume of seasonal visitors, ensuring seamless emergency response requires robust, data-driven, and interoperable solutions. Compounding these challenges, the state's home rule structure grants counties significant autonomy over their emergency response systems. While this decentralization allows for tailored local approaches, it also makes interoperability essential to bridging gaps between jurisdictions and ensuring a cohesive statewide response.
The Florida NENA Fall 2024 Conference that took place this past November in Daytona, FL, highlighted the key focus areas for public safety leaders in the state: GIS accuracy, Next Generation 911 (NG911) deployment, and data interoperability across agencies. These priorities align with the state's broader strategy for public safety modernization, where enhanced interoperability plays a pivotal role.
Florida is actively enhancing its public safety infrastructure through significant investments in technology and resources. By prioritizing technological advancements and resource allocation, Florida aims to strengthen its public safety framework, ensuring that agencies are well-equipped to serve and protect communities effectively.
The state's Focus on Florida’s Future 2024-2025 budget includes:
These initiatives reflect Florida's commitment to modernizing its public safety systems and policies to enhance efficiency and responsiveness. As Executive Director Dave Kerner stated, "The investments outlined in the Focus on Florida’s Future budget reflect our commitment, as well as that of Governor Ron DeSantis, to improving efficiency, modernizing technology, and providing our law enforcement with the necessary tools to safeguard the well-being of those traveling throughout our state." (flhsmv.gov)
With an active commitment to modernize public safety, Florida’s approach to interoperability has become imperative. Historically, the state’s public safety agencies have struggled with siloed communication systems, making cross-jurisdictional collaboration difficult. When emergencies cross county lines, delays in information sharing can have life-threatening consequences.
One significant step forward in addressing this challenge is the increased adoption of NG911 solutions like RapidDeploy's Radius Mapping, the Lightning Mobile app, and Eclipse Analytics. These cloud-native solutions enable real-time location sharing, data-driven decision-making, and seamless integration across agencies, breaking down the barriers that have historically fragmented emergency response systems efforts.
By leveraging cloud-native solutions like RapidDeploy’s NG911 solutions, Florida is taking a proactive approach to enhancing interoperability, emergency response efficiency, and ultimately saving lives. These challenges are especially critical in areas where high call volumes and complex emergency scenarios demand seamless coordination among emergency responders, such as in St. John’s County and Walton County. Aa a result, these counties are now deploying RapidDeploy’s Eclipse Analytics and Radius Mapping solutions with a goal to create a fully integrated system where agencies can share real-time call data, GIS mapping information, and analytics insights across county lines.
Throughout Florida many towns and counties frequently host large-scale public events, including sporting events, concerts, and festivals. These events pose unique challenges for emergency response teams, requiring real-time data-sharing capabilities between multiple jurisdictions. Major events in Florida such as the Daytona 500, the Miami Open, Gasparilla Pirate Festival, and Ultra Music Festival bring massive crowds, increasing the need for rapid and efficient emergency response coordination.
With solutions like RapidDeploy's Lightning mobile application, field responders can access live mapping data, video feeds, and situational intelligence directly from their mobile devices. This level of situational awareness is critical for ensuring a coordinated response during high-impact incidents and large public gatherings.
By integrating Lightning with NG911 capabilities, emergency teams can receive automatic location updates of other responders in the field, monitor real-time public safety threats, and deploy resources dynamically as situations evolve. For example, during an event like the Sumter County Fair, law enforcement and emergency response teams can benefit from using advanced GIS data and shared intelligence networks to monitor crowd density, identify potential threats, and streamline incident responses. The ability to instantly share mission-critical data across multiple agencies can help prevent congestion-related incidents and ensure rapid intervention in medical emergencies.
Florida is no stranger to natural disasters, particularly hurricanes, which require coordinated emergency response efforts across multiple jurisdictions. When a hurricane strikes, emergency teams must respond quickly, despite disruptions to traditional communication infrastructures. Interoperability plays a critical role in ensuring that public safety agencies remain connected and informed.
With RapidDeploy’s cloud-native solutions, agencies can maintain real-time data sharing, even when local networks are down. Radius Mapping enables first responders to track shifting storm paths, evacuation routes, and affected populations. The Lightning mobile application provides field teams with real-time updates on flood zones, road closures, and emergency shelter locations. This level of situational awareness ensures that emergency services can adapt quickly and coordinate effectively, reducing response times and ensuring public safety.
For instance, during a hurricane, emergency teams in Florida can leverage NG911 technology to dispatch aid efficiently, help stranded residents, and coordinate rescue efforts in flooded neighborhoods. By integrating GIS data with real-time emergency calls, agencies are able to prioritize resources and optimize response efforts.
In a tense situation in Santa Rosa County, RapidDeploy’s Radius Mapping was instrumental in rescuing a child who had sustained a head injury. The incident began with a misrouted call from a cell phone, reporting that a child had fallen into a pool. Despite losing the connection and failing to re-establish contact after two attempts, the telecommunicator from Santa Rosa County, Florida, utilized RapidLocate, RapidDeploy’s proprietary location technology, to pinpoint the caller’s location within Radius Mapping, and trace the call's origin—surprisingly nearly 100 miles away in Bay County!
The Challenge of Misrouted Calls
Misrouted calls present a unique challenge in emergency response. Often, cell phone calls connect to a cell tower that might not accurately reflect the caller's actual location, which can mislead responders into deploying resources to an incorrect area. This can have severe consequences in time-sensitive situations where minutes, or even seconds, count.
In this instance, the telecommunicator leveraged RapidDeploy's Radius Mapping to quickly identify that the call originated outside of Santa Rosa County's jurisdiction. By identifying the exact location in Bay County, the telecommunicator immediately alerted emergency response counterparts in that region.
Coordinated Response Across County Lines
Upon arrival at the scene, the emergency response teams discovered the child had fallen beside the pool and struck her head, contradicting the original report that the child had fallen into the pool. The response teams provided immediate care, ensuring the child received treatment in time.
Scott Markel, Communications Chief of Santa Rosa County Emergency Management Communications Center, reflected on how this technology played a pivotal role in expediting the response to prevent a tragic outcome, and applauded his team’s efforts:
"I commend my team for the quick-thinking and use of the RapidDeploy platform, which allowed us to swiftly redirect the call to the appropriate agency and coordinate a multi-agency prompt response."
A Lesson in Interagency Collaboration
This precise location tracking enabled a well-coordinated response between the Santa Rosa and Bay County emergency teams, leading to the successful discovery and treatment of the child. This situation emphasizes the importance of NG911 technology and demonstrates how crucial information can cross county boundaries to facilitate an emergency response.
In this instance, RapidDeploy’s technology effectively served as a bridge that allowed different agencies to collaborate seamlessly.
As Florida continues to advance its public safety initiatives, interoperability will be a key driver in transforming emergency response capabilities across the state. By enabling seamless communication and data-sharing among agencies, interoperability ensures that first responders have the most accurate and up-to-date information at their fingertips when seconds matter most.
The expansion of NG911 technology, coupled with cloud-native platforms like RapidDeploy, is equipping Florida’s emergency response teams with real-time situational awareness, ensuring faster, more coordinated responses. The ability to bridge jurisdictions, integrate GIS mapping, and provide advanced analytics is setting a new standard for public safety, making Florida a model for modern emergency response operations.
As more counties and agencies invest in interoperable solutions, Florida is poised to lead the nation in emergency preparedness and response efficiency. The future of public safety in the state is built on connectivity, collaboration, and the power of technology to save lives. Interoperability is not just a tool—it is the foundation for a safer Florida.
The growing importance of data sharing and the breaking down of silos when it comes to public safety is among the rising trends in the world of government technology.
That’s why RapidDeploy teamed up with Rave Mobile Safety to create Exchange Link–a cutting-edge interoperability solution designed to break down communication barriers between emergency response agencies.
The original solution was designed to help advance the California OES Data Information Sharing (DIS) project in the state of California to solve incident data sharing capabilities, and now can allow more integrated communications, despite agency boundaries and siloed communications. In this blog post, we’ll explore how Exchange Link works, why it’s a critical tool for agencies to implement, how it’s transforming emergency response, and how it drives seamless interoperability.
Exchange Link is an advanced interoperability solution that connects Rave Mobile Safety’s Rave Link solution with RapidDeploy’s Radius Mapping platform, creating an interconnected emergency response ecosystem. This integration enables agencies to:
This integration eliminates the inefficiencies often found in traditional communication methods and automates data sharing across emergency communication centers (ECCs)––ensuring all responding agencies have instant access to accurate, up-to-date information.
By streamlining data sharing and enhancing interagency communication, Exchange Link accelerates response times and enhances situational awareness, ultimately leading to more effective emergency response.
1. Enhanced Situational Awareness
In large-scale emergencies—such as wildfires, natural disasters, or multi-agency responses—coordinating mutual aid can be complex. Exchange Link integrates multiple data sources into a single, unified interface, providing a comprehensive view of incidents, vehicle locations, and available resources. This level of visibility allows call takers and first responders to make informed decisions in real-time.
2. Automated Mutual Aid Coordination
Traditionally, mutual aid requests rely on manual communication methods, causing delays in dispatch and response times. Exchange Link automates CAD data sharing, reducing reliance on outdated communication processes and ensuring that the closest and most appropriate resources are deployed faster.
3. Cross-Jurisdictional Data Sharing
Many jurisdictions operate disparate CAD systems that do not communicate with one another. Exchange Link acts as an interoperability bridge, allowing ECCs to securely share incident details, Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) data, and responder locations across multiple agencies, regardless of their CAD vendor.
4. Optimized Emergency Response Workflow
By displaying real-time agency CAD incidents and AVL data, Exchange Link streamlines the workflow of telecommunicators and responders. The tool enables selective data sharing among ECCs using Radius Mapping, ensuring that only relevant, critical information is shared without overwhelming emergency responders with unnecessary data.
Breaking Down Barriers to Data Sharing
The Next Generation 911 (NG911) movement is transitioning emergency response from traditional voice-centric systems to IP-based data-sharing networks. Exchange Link is a key enabler of this shift, facilitating secure and seamless interoperability between agencies while preserving local control over data-sharing permissions.
Seamless CAD and AVL Data Integration
Exchange Link’s seamless connection between Rave Mobile Safety’s Rave Link solution and RapidDeploy’s Radius Mapping creates an interconnected emergency response ecosystem. This integration helps to facilitate seamless interoperability between agencies, with the ability to share live CAD incident data with neighboring ECCs, track emergency vehicles in real-time across jurisdictions, and request resources directly through a single screen.
Configurable Rules Engine for Incident Data Sharing
Exchange Link provides local control for agencies to determine data sharing access. The solution includes an agency-to-agency rules engine, allowing agencies to define what data gets shared, with whom, and under what conditions. For instance, an agency can choose to share:
Alignment with National Interoperability Standards
Exchange Link is built to align with NG911 interoperability standards, including:
By aligning with these national interoperability standards, Exchange Link empowers emergency response agencies to break down technological and jurisdictional silos, fostering a more connected and resilient public safety ecosystem.
Exchange Link is changing the way we think about and respond to emergencies by breaking down communication barriers and empowering first responders with real-time coordination.
Accelerating Mutual Aid During Large-Scale Incidents
In a wildfire scenario, multiple agencies—fire, EMS, law enforcement—must collaborate to coordinate evacuations, fire suppression, and medical aid. Without real-time data sharing, response times suffer, and lives are at risk. With Exchange Link, agencies can instantly view and request available resources, improve coordination, and enhance first responder safety, ensuring faster deployment and improved coordination across jurisdictions.
Enhancing First Responder Safety
By providing live tracking of responder locations, Exchange Link improves first responder safety. Supervisors can monitor the exact positions of units in the field, allowing for better resource allocation and risk management during dynamic emergencies.
Proven Technology, Trusted Partners
Exchange Link is a partnered solution between RapidDeploy, a leader in cloud-native public safety solutions, and Rave Mobile Safety, a pioneer in emergency communication technology. Together, these companies deliver a solution that is:
✅ Cloud-native, ensuring fast deployment and scalability
✅ Secure, with role-based data sharing and encryption
✅ Customizable, allowing agencies to tailor data-sharing permissions
Next Steps: How to Get Started
The future of Next Generation 911 depends on seamless data interoperability. Exchange Link is more than just a tool—it’s a game-changer for public safety, ensuring every agency has the right information, at the right time, to save lives. By embracing this technology, ECCs can streamline mutual aid, enhance situational awareness, and drive faster emergency responses—exactly what the future of public safety demands.
For agencies looking to improve their interoperability and mutual aid capabilities, Exchange Link offers a seamless path to NG911 readiness. To learn more or schedule a demo, contact RapidDeploy today at info@rapiddeploy.com.
As 2024 comes to a close, we're taking a moment to reflect on the impactful stories and trends that resonated most with our community this year. From celebrating our public safety heroes to showcasing game-changing technology, each of these stories highlights the trends, stories and technologies making a measurable difference in emergency response in 2024.
Get ready to count down RapidDeploy’s Top 5 Most Impactful and Popular Resources of the year—with the trends, innovations, and stories that sparked momentum in 2024 and are sure to shine even brighter in 2025!
Trend: Enhancing Safety for Schools
What it’s about: This comprehensive guide explores how NG911 solutions can enhance safety in schools. Released in June 2024, this Ebook provides detailed strategies for leveraging technology to improve emergency preparedness, from real-time communication tools to actionable response frameworks. It also features case studies and practical insights tailored to educators and administrators. By enabling better location accuracy and faster response times, NG911 tools are helping schools prepare for and respond to emergencies.
Why it was popular: School safety remains a top concern for communities, parents, and educators. According to recent data, 77% of schools say improving emergency preparedness is a top priority. This Ebook provides actionable solutions backed by real-world use cases in an easy-to-digest format, and covers topics such as Alyssa’s law, panic buttons, indoor floor plans, caller-in-motion detection, cctv, real-time communication, and smart building tools.
Why school safety matters: Ensuring school safety is crucial because schools represent a place of learning and growth for the youngest members of our communities. This Ebook was one of our most popular because it demonstrates how leveraging advanced technology can help protect students and staff, creating an environment where education can thrive without fear.
Trend: Elevating NG911 Awareness
What it’s about: In November 2024, Good Morning America ran a feature story covering RapidDeploy and our cutting-edge solutions, showcasing how NG911 technology can pinpoint callers’ locations, improve response times, and ultimately save lives. The segment highlighted real-world scenarios where RapidDeploy’s technology has made a life-saving difference, from urban settings to rural communities. It also emphasized how this next-generation technology is bridging critical gaps in emergency response systems.
Why it was popular: Exposure on a reputable program like Good Morning America brings widespread attention to the importance of upgrading 911 infrastructure. As Good Morning America highlighted, “Modern technology can turn confusion into clarity during the most urgent moments”, and this segment featuring customer interviews in Arlington, VA captured real-world examples of RapidDeploy’s tools and their capability of saving lives.
Why it matters: Public safety agencies are often working against the clock to save lives. By increasing public awareness of NG911 advancements, this feature discusses the necessity of modern, location-based emergency response systems in ensuring timely and effective interventions.
Trend: Innovation Born from Purpose
What it’s about: Inc. Magazine told the story of RapidDeploy’s origins, inspired by a personal tragedy that became the catalyst for building a company with a mission for modern, reliable 911 technology. The article shared how RapidDeploy’s solutions are transforming emergency response nationwide, from reducing call transfer times to providing real-time mapping and analytics. Read the article to learn more about our CEO’s journey, the obstacles faced, and the life-saving impact of the RapidDeploy’s innovations.
Why it was popular: This story shines a light on how personal experiences can lead to groundbreaking innovations that benefit entire communities. It’s a reminder that technology is not just about progress—it’s about saving lives and making the world safer for everyone. This article provides a powerful look at how personal experiences fuel innovation and drive change. In a year when technological advancement was top of mind, this piece stood out as an example of how tech can save lives.
Why it matters: Public safety technology often arises from deeply personal motivations, and this story gives life to RapidDeploy’s mission. This story highlights how advancements born from tragedy can lead to meaningful, system-wide improvements in emergency response.
Trend: Interoperability Drives Collaboration
What it’s about: Originally aired in September 2024, this webinar brought together public safety leaders to discuss how NG911 solutions can break down communication barriers between neighboring jurisdictions. Featuring Chris Guerrero, Senior Customer Success Manager at RapidDeploy, and Karen Sutherland, Services Support Director, Scottsdale Police Department, this session explored real-world examples from the Scottsdale Police Department of enhanced interoperability. Topics included how shared data platforms and cross-jurisdictional collaboration improved response efficiency and saved lives during large-scale emergencies.
Why it was popular: Interoperability remains a top challenge for public safety agencies, and leaders need solutions. This webinar strikes a chord with our audience by offering actionable insights and showcasing the tangible benefits of NG911 technology. "Interoperability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a lifeline when seconds matter," said Karen Sutherland during the session.
Why it matters: In public safety, collaboration can mean the difference between life and death. Interoperability allows agencies to share critical data in real time, ensuring seamless coordination during emergencies. This webinar demonstrated the importance of breaking silos to improve outcomes for communities.
Trend: Honoring the Heroes of 911
What it’s about: During National Telecommunicators Week, we spotlighted 911 telecommunicators across Hawaii, Arizona, California, and Florida who use RapidDeploy's solutions to improve emergency response in their communities. These unsung heroes work tirelessly to save lives every day, and this celebration shared real-life stories of their dedication. The content featured interviews, behind-the-scenes looks at their work, and heartfelt testimonials from the communities they serve.
Why it was popular: We are proud to honor our telecommunicators—the backbone of emergency response. Their critical role is often unseen but never unappreciated. As one telecommunicator from Florida shared, “RapidDeploy’s tools allow us to focus on what matters most: helping callers and first responders in the moments that count.”
Why it matters: Let’s join together to recognize the contributions of 911 telecommunicators, elevate their visibility, and show our support for their role as first, first responders. By highlighting their stories, we aim to foster greater appreciation for their essential work and the technology that supports them.
This year’s most popular content reflects the issues that matter most to our customers: supporting 911 telecommunicators, enhancing public safety through interoperability, and advancing emergency response with modern technology. As we look ahead to 2025, RapidDeploy continues to dedicate our work, time, and energy to our mission to make a life-saving impact with every call.
Thank you for being part of our journey. Together, we are transforming emergency response and building safer communities for all.
In the ever-evolving landscape of public safety, Kansas is setting a remarkable precedent with its groundbreaking adoption of RapidDeploy’s Lightning mobile application. This transformative tool is redefining how first responders operate, fostering seamless communication, enhancing situational awareness, and delivering faster emergency response times. As a state known for its commitment to innovation, Kansas is leading by example, demonstrating the powerful impact of modern technology in saving lives and improving community safety.
Public safety agencies face increasing challenges in today’s complex emergency response environment. From natural disasters to public health crises and active threats, the demand for effective collaboration across agencies has never been greater. Unfortunately, traditional emergency response systems often function in silos, limiting their ability to share real-time information and coordinate effectively. This lack of interoperability can lead to delayed responses, miscommunication, and missed opportunities to save lives.
Recognizing these challenges, Kansas has embraced the power of Next Generation 911 (NG911) technology, with Radius Mapping and companion mobile application, Lightning, at its core. These innovative technologies bridge the gap between PSAPs (Public Safety Answering Points) and field responders, enabling seamless collaboration across fire, EMS, and police departments.
Lightning moves beyond traditional incident location tools to provide first responders with comprehensive real-time data. This mobile-first application ensures that responders have access to mission-critical information at their fingertips, empowering them to act swiftly and decisively in emergencies. Key features include:
Kansas’ journey with Lightning began with a pilot program involving 100 mobile applications. Following its success, the state launched an ambitious initiative to scale the deployment to 20,000 licenses. This commitment highlights Kansas’ vision to create a unified, interoperable emergency response system that serves every corner of the state.
Lightning Mobile App to Improve Kansas Emergency Response
Lightning was adopted to bring tangible benefits to emergency response across Kansas. For instance:
Lightning’s user-centric design reflects the needs of first responders in the field. The app’s discipline-based filtering ensures that responders see only the data relevant to their roles, reducing noise, and enabling focused decision-making. For example:
This tailored approach ensures that every responder operates with precision, regardless of the complexity of the situation.
Safety is at the heart of Lightning’s design. By equipping responders with real-time data and tools for effective communication, the application can significantly improve unit safety and preparedness. Responders gain visibility into potential hazards and can coordinate strategies to mitigate risks. Features like stealth mode allow responders to operate discreetly when necessary, ensuring their safety during sensitive operations.
Kansas’ leadership in adopting Lightning serves as a blueprint for other states seeking to modernize their emergency response systems. By leveraging NG911 technology, Kansas demonstrates how interoperability, real-time data, and cross-agency collaboration can drive better outcomes in public safety.
As more states and agencies follow Kansas’ lead, the potential for nationwide transformation becomes evident. Lightning is not just a tool—it’s a lifeline that empowers responders, protects communities, and redefines what’s possible in emergency response.
The journey doesn’t stop here. Kansas’ adoption of RapidDeploy’s Lightning application marks a transformative step in the evolution of public safety. By fostering interoperability, enhancing situational awareness, and enabling faster response times, Lightning empowers first responders to save lives and protect communities more effectively. As the nation looks to Kansas as a model of innovation, one thing is clear: the future of emergency response is here, and it’s powered by Lightning.
As we stand on the threshold of 2025, it’s worth pausing to reflect on a transformative year for public safety. At RapidDeploy, our mission to save lives by reducing response times is not just a goal—it’s a promise. Every feature, every enhancement, and every partnership we pursued in 2024 was guided by one simple belief: we can save lives by reducing response times.
Through collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to the communities we serve, in 2024 we have worked to reshape what’s possible in emergency response. Let's explore our journey through 2024—a year of milestones, challenges, and breakthroughs—toward a safer, more connected future.
It begins in a bustling emergency communication center (ECC), where seconds can mean the difference between life and death. Here, RapidDeploy’s Radius Mapping has become the heartbeat of operations, empowering telecommunicators with a single pane of glass that seamlessly integrates location data, GIS layers, and live communications.
In early 2024, Tennessee’s Carter County faced a nightmare scenario: a string of 911 calls from an untraceable 911-only phone. The initial call was cryptic—the call disconnected, leaving telecommunicators scrambling. The address provided didn’t align with their jurisdiction, and follow-ups proved fruitless. But then, another call came in, this time mentioning the local school system and a potential shooting threat. Within moments, RapidDeploy’s Radius Mapping pinpointed the call to cell towers near the county border, setting the stage for a coordinated response
When the same phone initiated a third call, the stakes escalated. RapidDeploy’s platform mapped the location in real time to Happy Valley High School. The ECC immediately activated a full-scale lockdown, alerting school resource officers and dispatching patrol units from multiple jurisdictions. Thanks to Radius Mapping’s precise location accuracy, the suspects were apprehended, averting a potential tragedy and safeguarding thousands of students across 16 schools.
Meanwhile, in Scottsdale, Arizona, another emergency was unfolding—a potential active shooter at a local grocery store. The call volume overwhelmed the Scottsdale Police Department’s communication lines, spilling over to a neighboring agency. In a critical moment, RapidDeploy’s ECC Messaging stepped in. Through interagency chat, Scottsdale Police and their counterparts seamlessly exchanged updates, including a description of the suspect.
This rapid collaboration enabled swift decision-making and the deployment of coordinated resources, from SWAT teams to medical responders. Within hours, the scene was stabilized, and the threat was contained. Reflecting on the event, Karen Sutherland, Support Services Director at Scottsdale Police Department, remarked, “RapidDeploy’s Interagency Chat enabled us to act quickly and coordinate across teams. It’s now essential to our emergency response.”
Radius Mapping wasn’t just a tool; it was a lifeline.
The transformative power of RapidDeploy’s tools comes from the thoughtful features introduced this year:
These features collectively support how public safety agencies approach emergencies, making 2024 a year of impactful innovation within Radius Mapping.
In Kansas, first responders often work in remote areas, and for them, RapidDeploy’s Lightning Mobile app can be a trusted companion. By extending the capabilities of Radius Mapping to field responders’ smartphones, Lightning transforms the way field responders connect with the ECC and each other.
Picture this: a responder arrives at the scene of an electric vehicle crash. With a few taps on their phone, they access OnStar extrication details, enabling them to assess risks and act decisively. Moments later, they receive live updates on the nearest available resource, ensuring units are deployed where they’re needed most.
This level of precision isn’t just technology at work—it’s peace of mind for the people who rely on it.
In a world where school emergencies have become a painful reality, RapidDeploy committed itself to innovation that protects our schools and personnel. In 2024, we partnered with panic button providers and indoor mapping platforms, including Critical Response Group (CRG), Datamark, ZeroEyes, Singlewire, CrisisGo, GeoComm, and Raptor Technologies, to bring critical tools directly to ECCs and first responders.
Imagine a telecommunicator guiding a team into a school during an active threat. With the help of indoor floor plans integrated into Radius Mapping, responders know the layout of every hallway and classroom. Panic alerts pinpoint the exact location of the emergency, shaving precious minutes off response times.
These moments remind us of our responsibility—not just to innovate but to stand as a shield for communities when they need us most.
In 2024, Eclipse Analytics became the backbone of smarter, data-driven decisions for ECCs nationwide. By standardizing call data and providing instant insights, Eclipse empowers agencies to optimize staffing, identify trends, and allocate resources more effectively.
In Texas, where PSAPs can operate with limited resources, Eclipse Analytics became a game-changer. With its Normalized Call Records (NCR) framework, agencies can onboard and analyze data faster than ever before. For one supervisor, the ability to identify misrouted calls and adjust routing protocols in real-time was nothing short of transformational.
These insights are not just numbers—they’re the stories of people who made it home because PSAPS had the tools to act swiftly and decisively.
In Walton County, Florida, a telecommunicator answered a call from a frantic woman whose husband had fallen overboard. The bay was choppy, and she was drifting away in the boat from where her husband had fallen into the water. Using RapidDeploy’s RapidVideo feature, the responding telecommunicator initiated a live video stream and guided her back to her husband. He was pulled to safety just as emergency teams arrived.
In another intense emergency, Anderson County telecommunicators Derek Kennedy and Zachary Mcmillion used non-voice communication to guide students barricaded in a classroom through a high-stakes ordeal. Utilizing RapidDeploy’s Radius Mapping and Text-from-911 capabilities, they maintained a discreet line of communication with the students, providing critical instructions while avoiding detection by the threat. The platform’s precise location tracking allowed responders to pinpoint the exact classroom and coordinate with law enforcement to neutralize the situation safely. This seamless blend of technology and human expertise ensured a rapid and effective response, safeguarding the lives of everyone involved.
2024 was a year of growth, but it was also a year of innovation. We learned that the best technology doesn’t just solve problems; it listens to the needs of those on the front lines. We learned that partnerships—with schools, vehicle telematics providers, and GIS experts—are the foundation of real progress. And we learned that in every call answered, every text read, and every rescue completed, there is a story worth telling.
As we look ahead to 2025, our mission remains unchanged: to save lives by reducing response times. Together with our partners, we are building a future where every community, no matter how remote or urban, has access to the tools they need to respond faster, smarter, and with greater confidence.
The path is clear. The tools are ready. And the future of public safety has never looked brighter.
To learn more about how RapidDeploy is shaping the next generation of emergency response, visit www.rapiddeploy.com.
In today’s emergency response landscape, collaboration is no longer optional—it’s a lifeline. Communities face increasingly complex threats that demand precise, coordinated efforts across multiple disciplines. From fires to medical emergencies and active shooter incidents, the ability to share information instantly and act as a unified force is critical for saving lives. Yet, many emergency response systems remain siloed, limiting their ability to meet these challenges head-on.
RapidDeploy’s Lightning mobile application is changing this space by providing a cutting-edge tool designed to empower first responders from fire, EMS, police, and other emergency services. With its real-time data sharing, seamless interoperability, and robust situational awareness capabilities, Lightning is redefining how agencies collaborate and respond to emergencies.
Let’s dive into how Lightning addresses the unique needs of cross-disciplinary teams and fosters interoperability. We’ll also explore how Kansas’ statewide adoption of Lightning is setting the gold standard for unified emergency response.
Traditional emergency response systems often operate in isolation, with police, fire, and EMS teams relying on separate communication tools and databases. These silos can result in delayed information sharing, missed opportunities for collaboration, and, ultimately, slower response times.
Lightning eliminates these barriers by enabling real-time information sharing across all disciplines. With a unified mobile app accessible to all first responders, Lightning ensures that everyone involved in an incident is working from the same set of data. Whether it’s sharing live location tracking, responding to evolving threats, or accessing critical GIS data, teams can coordinate seamlessly, regardless of their agency or role.
For example:
· Police departments can provide fire departments with immediate updates on evacuation zones during a hazardous material spill.
· EMS crews can access real-time traffic updates to navigate to incident locations faster, avoiding roadblocks or detours flagged by other first responders.
· Firefighters can share situational updates from the field, such as wind conditions or the spread of flames, to ensure everyone involved stays safe.
By replacing fragmented systems with a single interoperable platform, Lightning equips first responders with the tools they need to act as a cohesive unit.
Every second matters during an emergency, and situational awareness can enhance the ability to respond to an emergency. Lightning’s ability to provide real-time, location-based insights empowers first responders with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions in high-pressure situations.
1. Live Mapping and GPS Tracking
Lightning’s GIS-powered live maps offer a dynamic view of an incident as it unfolds. Responders can see not only their own location but also the positions of their colleagues, vehicles, and other critical assets in real time. This allows for precise coordination, whether teams are navigating through a city block or responding to a large-scale disaster.
2. Incident-Specific Data Integration
The app integrates data such as caller locations, medical history, or building blueprints, providing responders with actionable insights before they arrive on the scene. For example, EMS teams can prepare for specific medical emergencies based on information shared by telecommunicators or other responders.
3. Push Notifications and Alerts
Lightning enables instant communication through push notifications and alerts, ensuring that every team member receives the latest updates. This is particularly vital in scenarios like active shooter events or multi-vehicle accidents, where the situation evolves rapidly.
By equipping responders with a comprehensive operational view, Lightning ensures they can anticipate challenges, adapt strategies, and mitigate risks effectively.
A defining feature of Lightning is its discipline-based filtering, which allows users to tailor their experience based on their specific role in an emergency. Responders can focus exclusively on events and resources relevant to their discipline, reducing noise and enabling faster, more effective action.
For example, a firefighter can filter out non-fire-related events and focus on hydrant locations or evacuation routes, while an EMS responder can zero in on incoming medical emergencies and nearby hospitals. These filters ensure that every team member operates with precision and clarity, no matter the complexity of the incident.
In Lightning, emergencies are categorized as “events”, encompassing everything from911 calls to crash events and panic alarms. By filtering these events based on their discipline, responders can avoid distractions and prioritize incidents within their scope of responsibility.
Additionally, Lightning integrates customized mapping resources, allowing responders to access discipline-specific layers:
· Firefighters can view hydrants and areas prone to structural risks.
· EMS teams can see hospital locations and optimized routes.
· Police officers can access live traffic updates and incident scenes.
This tailored mapping ensures responders have the right tools and insights to manage their unique responsibilities effectively.
Kansas has emerged as a leader in adopting Lightning for cross-disciplinary use. Following a successful pilot program with 100 Lightning mobile applications, the state is now driving the adoption of 20,000 licenses across its emergency response agencies. This initiative exemplifies how a unified platform can transform emergency response at scale and support public safety’s commitment to saving lives.
· Faster Response Times: Real-time communication and GPS tracking can help teams navigate rural and urban areas more efficiently, ensuring faster response to emergencies.
· Improve Resource Allocation: PSAPs and first responders can now have better visibility into available resources, allowing for optimized deployment during peak demand.
· Enhance Interagency Collaboration: Police, fire, and EMS teams across Kansas can improve coordination, especially in large-scale incidents requiring multi-agency support.
By embracing Lightning, Kansas is not only improving outcomes within the state but also serving as a model for how other regions can achieve interoperable emergency response.
Lightning represents the future of emergency response: one where barriers between agencies are eliminated, and data flows freely to empower those who protect and serve. As more states and agencies follow Kansas’ lead, the potential to save lives and enhance community safety will only grow.
For first responders, Lightning is more than a tool—it’s a lifeline that connects teams, strengthens operations, and ensures that every decision is informed by real-time insights. For communities, it’s a promise that help will arrive swiftly, collaboratively, and with the full strength of every agency involved.
Interested in learning more about Lightning and how it can transform emergency response in your community? Contact us today or schedule a demo to see it in action.
