On September 23, 2025, RapidDeploy had the honor of surprising four courageous telecommunicators from Sherman County Communications—Darcy Holmes, Nicole Holub, Crissy Livengood-Ridnour, and Michelle Roe—with the Q3 2025 RapidDeploy Superstar Award. This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated excellence and significant life-saving actions when utilizing RapidDeploy technologies in their crisis response.
On March 15, 2025, a sudden dust storm swept across Northern Kansas, creating zero-visibility conditions along I-70. In an instant, thick dust reduced visibility to zero, leading to multi-site crashes involving more than 70 vehicles. Sherman County Communications was quickly inundated with calls of injuries, accidents, and panicked drivers.
The harrowing conditions, paired with frantic and disoriented callers, made an already difficult job even more complicated. Without hesitation, Sherman County telecommunicators launched RapidDeploy’s Radius Mapping platform to help bring clarity to the chaos.
Three key features within RapidDeploy’s Radius Mapping platform played a vital role in helping telecommunicators during this incident:
• Precision location tools gave call-takers real-time visibility into the exact positions of multiple crash sites—all within a single screen.
• RapidLocate allowed telecommunicators to pinpoint callers who couldn’t describe their surroundings by sending a secure SMS link to return exact GPS coordinates.
• AI language translation helped break down communication barriers, enabling telecommunicators to assist non-English-speaking callers without delay.
Together, these tools gave Sherman County Communications the clarity, coordination, and confidence needed to manage one of the region’s most complex multi-vehicle incidents.
“RapidDeploy was incredibly helpful during the I-70 pileup. We had nonstop 911 calls - in multiple languages - and every call mapped to the same area. RapidDeploy’s maps helped us stay organized, track call order, and stay focused through the chaos,” said Nicole Holub, Telecommunicator, Sherman County Communications.
To learn more about this story and Sherman County Communications’ efforts, access our I-70 case study, blog, or video.
On September 23, 2025, during the Kansas APCO Conference in Wichita, public safety leaders from across the state gathered alongside RapidDeploy and Sherman County Communications to celebrate our most recent RapidDeploy Superstar Award winners. This award recognizes exceptional responders who go above and beyond the call of duty, bringing skill, calm, and innovation to critical moments when seconds truly matter.
The ceremony served as a powerful reminder of the human impact behind the headset—and the difference smart technology, combined with sharp instincts, can make when lives are on the line.
“The team at Sherman County Communications turned a chaotic, overwhelming event into a managed response. Their incredible work saved time, and without a doubt, it saved lives,” said Ryan Chandler, Vice-President of Customer Experience, RapidDeploy, who presented the team with their award. “Their actions are a powerful example of what is possible when human expertise, teamwork, and compassion is paired with NextGen 911 technology.”
The awards ceremony was held in Wichita as a part of Kansas APCO 2025, where we joined public safety leaders from across the Midwest for four days of connection, innovation, and celebration. From NFL watch parties and exclusive vendor events to Lightning demo sessions and the RapidDeploy Superstar Award Ceremony, the conference offered a packed agenda and conversations, connections, and ideas that will carry forward long after the final session.
This year, we were excited to demo our Lightning mobile app for the state of Kansas. Located at booth #23, our demos gave attendees a chance to see how Lightning helps bridge the gap between telecommunicators and the field with speed, simplicity, and easy-to-use tech. We showcased Lightning’s ability to create and visualize incidents, share locations, track units in real-time by discipline, and update status on the go all from the palm of your hand.
To learn more about Lightning, watch our latest video.
We also attended a well-rounded lineup of speaking sessions focused on the most pressing topics in emergency communications—from cybersecurity and NG911 to leadership, training, and responder wellness. The programming struck a balance between forward-thinking innovation and practical, in-field insight, all designed to equip 911 professionals with real-world tools they could bring back to their emergency centers.
We wrapped up our time at Kansas APCO by surprising the four RapidDeploy Superstar Award winners from Sherman County Communications with this honor. The ceremony was the perfect way to close out Kansas APCO—by recognizing the hardworking and fearless individuals who are changing the world of public safety one step at a time. Watch the award ceremony video to see these telecommunicators recognized for their efforts.
At RapidDeploy, we believe every moment matters—and the heroes behind the headset deserve to be recognized for the calm, skill, and quick thinking they bring every day. The Sherman County Communications team’s response during the I-70 dust storm is exactly the kind of dedication the RapidDeploy Superstar Award was designed to recognize.
Know a telecommunicator who went above and beyond? Share your save stories with us and help shine a spotlight on the professionals who make an extraordinary impact in life’s most critical moments. And join us in congratulating Darcy, Nicole, Crissy, and Michelle for their exceptional work during an unforgettable emergency response.
