With 2025 coming to a close, we’re taking a moment to highlight the stories and topics that resonated most with our RapidDeploy community. From a life-saving emergency response on I-70 to a breakdown of how to manage emergency response during large, complex events, each of these resources signify how advanced emergency response tools and skilled telecommunicators are transforming public safety for the better.
Join us in revisiting RapidDeploy’s top 15 most impactful and popular resources of the year!
What it’s about: In March 2025, a near-zero visibility dust storm on I-70 in Kansas led to a devastating pileup, creating confusion and testing the limits of emergency response. This blog honors the four Sherman County Communications telecommunicators who received our RapidDeploy Superstar Award for their heroic actions during the incident. The team was honored with their awards at Kansas APCO, celebrating their quick-thinking and ability to stay calm and precise in the midst of chaos.
Why it matters: Technology is only as powerful as the hands that use it. This story is a reminder that while advanced tools enhance emergency response strategies, it is the skill and intelligence of the telecommunicator that ultimately helps save lives. The Superstar Award was created to ensure these behind-the-scenes heroes receive the recognition they deserve, from both their peers and the communities they protect.
What it’s about: Emergency response doesn't end in the call center. This product overview provides an in-depth look at the Lightning mobile app, designed to extend essential Next Generation 911 (NG911) data directly to field responders. Lightning puts life-saving data directly into your team's hands. With real-time alerts and shared incident boards, everyone stays on the same page using the devices they already carry.
Why it matters: When field responders have instant access to location accuracy and caller data, they arrive on the scene better prepared. By placing key 911 data in a first responder's fingertips, we eliminate the information gap that often occurs between telecommunicators and the scene itself. Lightning empowers responders with the situational awareness they need to make faster, safer, and more informed decisions before they even step out of their vehicles, bringing us one step closer to our mission of saving lives.
What it’s about: Morgan County made history as the first PSAP in the state of Indiana to adopt Radius Mapping, and the results were immediate. Within just eight hours of going live, telecommunicators utilized RapidLocate and the breadcrumb features within the Radius Mapping platform to pinpoint and capture a hit-and-run suspect in under 10 minutes. This instant success has earned RapidDeploy a 100% approval rating from the Morgan County team.
Why it matters: New technology often comes with a steep learning curve, but Morgan County Public Safety Dispatch proved that the right tools can deliver life-saving results on day one. By successfully navigating a fast-paced scenario just hours after implementation, they’ve become a blueprint for how PSAPs can seamlessly transition to NG911 technology without missing a beat, transforming new tools into actionable results immediately.
What it’s about: To celebrate National First Responders Day, RapidDeploy partnered with North Central Texas 9-1-1 (NCT9-1-1) for our second annual 911 Heroes Art Contest. We invited K-12 students across Central Texas to create original artwork depicting the courage of first responders and telecommunicators. With over 600 submissions this year, the community came together to vote on their favorites, turning a creative competition into a massive display of public support.
Why it matters: Seeing the work of 911 through the eyes of the next generation is a powerful reminder of the impact these heroes have on our communities. Beyond the contest, these entries have a lasting legacy. The winning pieces will be transformed into public murals in 2026, serving as a lasting tribute to our 911 heroes. Other artworks have been featured in coloring books and earned students scholarships for their future careers. It’s a small way we can give back to those who give everything for our safety.
What it’s about: This moving video captures the moment Wendy Doran, a telecommunicator in Sullivan County, Tennessee, was honored with RapidDeploy’s Superstar Award for her extraordinary response to an infant in distress. When Wendy received a call from a frantic father explaining that his 7-month-old baby was unresponsive, she used RapidVideo to look past the panic and see the situation for herself. By providing a calm, visual connection, she guided the father through life-saving instructions while waiting for first responders to arrive on the scene.
Why it matters: The Superstar Award recognizes that it’s the person wearing the headset—and their courage to lead through a crisis—that actually makes the difference. This recognition highlights how telecommunicators are the "first" first responders. Wendy’s story serves as a powerful reminder that when we equip skilled professionals with the right tools, we can empower public safety leaders to take decisive action.
What it’s about: When Valley Emergency Communications Center (VECC) in Arizona received a call about a residential porch fire, instead of relying on guesswork and immediately deploying all resources to the scene, the telecommunicator launched RapidVideo with the caller, which gave telecommunicators and first responders a real-time visual of the scene, allowing them to confirm immediately that the fire had been contained.
Why it matters: Visual clarity directly translates to smarter resource management. In this instance, having virtual eyes on the scene allowed the agency to scale back the response from seven emergency vehicles to just one. By optimizing resource allocation, RapidVideo ensured that first responders stay safe and that valuable equipment and personnel remained available for other critical calls in the community.
What it’s about: Michele Abbott, Coordinator for Kansas 911, shares the story of how Kansas became the first state to adopt RapidDeploy’s fully integrated product suite. By unifying Radius Mapping, Lightning, and Eclipse Analytics into one cohesive workflow, the state has achieved a new standard of situational awareness. From rural counties to major urban areas, this transition has drastically improved how calls are handled and how first responders are protected in the field.
Why it matters: The true power of NG911 is apparent when data flows seamlessly across the entire emergency response process. With the full suite, Kansas has connected the dots by turning raw data into live maps that actually help responders make better decisions on the move. This “all-in” approach serves as a roadmap for how states can leverage unified technology to drive smarter, faster, and more coordinated outcomes.
What it’s about: The public safety landscape is evolving at a rapid pace. This Ebook provides a comprehensive deep dive into the 2025 innovations that redefined the industry. From cross-agency interoperability and AI-driven insights to the latest in school safety and community empowerment tools, it’s a curated guide to the technologies that transitioned from useful to mission-critical this year.
Why it matters: To lead a modern agency, you have to stay ahead of the technology curve. Understanding these emerging trends empowers your team with the most effective tools available. When agencies and first responders are better prepared, they can act confidently knowing they are backed by the best technology in the field.
For a look at the upcoming technological advancements and public safety trends that are set to make an impact in 2026, download our newest Ebook, The Future of Emergency Response: How NG911, AI, and Emerging Technologies are Shaping the Future of 911.
What it’s about: Josh Michaelis, Director of Rice County Emergency Communications in Kansas shares how Radius Mapping’s Map Markups feature has become a game-changer for rural response. Map Markups has been used by Rice County during bird flu outbreaks and sudden road closures, which allows agencies to draw directly on the map, instantly sharing local knowledge that traditional GIS data might miss.
Why it matters: In rural areas where environments change quickly, static maps can get stale very quickly. Map Markups bridges the gap between the comms center and the field, allowing for real-time updates that keep every responder in the loop. By turning local insights into shared intelligence, this feature ensures that first responders aren't walking into a situation blind, significantly increasing safety and operational speed when it matters most.
What it’s about: When an abrupt sand storm swept across I-70 in Northern Kansas, hundreds of highway travelers were blinded, leading to a fatal pileup that required an all-hands-on-deck approach by telecommunicators and first responders. With several motorists unable to describe their locations and many non-English speakers, the situation went from difficult to nearly impossible in a matter of minutes. The team at Sherman County Communications promptly launched RapidDeploy’s Radius Mapping platform and used features like RapidLocate and AI translation to quickly cut through the noise and bring first responders directly to callers safely.
Why it matters: High-stakes incidents are often difficult to manage due to a surplus of information that is easily lost in translation or location. This story demonstrates the critical role of NG911 tools in managing large-scale disasters. Powered by Radius Mapping, this massive incident resulted in an organized and fast-paced response, helping save countless lives along the way. Sherman County Communications provided a masterclass in how technology can help telecommunicators maintain control over a chaotic scene.
What it’s about: As the U.S. prepares to host massive global events, like the FIFA World Cup in 2026, a critical gap in public safety infrastructure has surfaced: many 911 systems struggle to process calls from international phone numbers. This blog post explores the "silent emergency" that occurs when international callers cannot be geolocated or called back, and how language barriers further complicate these large-scale interactions.
Why it matters: With hundreds of thousands of international visitors expected in the U.S. in coming years, Emergency Communication Centers (ECCs) must be prepared for more than just localized emergencies. With Radius Mapping, telecommunicators can mitigate this risk by providing precise location data for international devices and instant AI translation.
What it’s about: After being submerged in water, a 911 caller’s 7-month-old baby was left unresponsive. With no time to waste, a Sullivan County telecommunicator acted quickly and launched a one-way, secure RapidVideo call to better assess the infant’s condition. This visual connection allowed for precise, real-time life-saving coaching that kept the child’s passageway clear during the critical gap before EMS arrived on the scene.
Why it matters: Technology like RapidVideo redefines the arrival of help. Traditionally, life-saving interventions began when first responders arrived on the scene. Now, they begin the moment a secure video link is established. This story highlights how visual data removes the ambiguity of a caller’s relaying of information, allowing telecommunicators to deliver life-saving solutions that can be the difference between life and death.
What it’s about: While 911 systems are dependable, they are not immune to failure. This whitepaper provides a strategic roadmap for navigating the risks and impacts of system outages and how advanced technology like RapidDeploy’s can remain reliable and maintain operational continuity and real-time visibility during complex emergency situations.
Why it matters: Widespread outages, natural disasters, and disruptions are unpredictable and bound to happen. When ECCs are better prepared and equipped with innovative technology, they are empowered to enhance resiliency and continue answering calls regardless of obstacles along the way. This resource offers the technical framework needed to build a resilient, continuous response system that stays online when the community needs it most.
What it’s about: We are witnessing a fundamental shift in the future of emergency response as public safety data moves beyond the call center. This Ebook explores the critical transition to mobile-first awareness, powered by RapidDeploy’s cloud-native product suite. It dives into how innovations like the Lightning mobile app are empowering field responders with the same data previously only available to telecommunicators, ensuring a unified, rapid response from the first ring to the final unit on scene.
Why it matters: In the field, every second counts. By putting real-time mapping and caller data directly into a responder's hand, we eliminate communication barriers and enhance situational awareness for everyone involved. This advancement ensures that first responders have the most up-to-date information at their fingertips, creating a safer, more unified environment for both citizens and the heroes who protect them.
What it’s about: Large-scale events bring high-stakes risks that test the limits of even the most experienced public safety agencies and first responders. This Ebook dives into the unique multitude of challenges in modern event management, from managing massive crowds and communication breakdowns to protecting thousands of international visitors. It provides a practical toolkit of best practices for navigating the chaotic environment of live events with precision and control.
Why it matters: As our most-downloaded resource of 2025, it is clear that public safety leaders are prioritizing a more proactive approach to event safety. This Ebook provides the strategic framework needed to transform a high-stress incident into a coordinated, data-driven response. By addressing critical factors like first responder safety and multi-jurisdictional coordination, this Ebook empowers teams to deliver a safer experience for their communities and a more effective strategy for the field.
From technical deep-dives to stories of frontline heroism, these 15 picks defined a landmark year for the RapidDeploy community. As technology continues to evolve, so does our commitment to those who use it to help save lives. We are proud to stand alongside you as we transition into 2026 with a shared goal: a faster, smarter, and more unified emergency response.
Thank you for the work that you do daily and for allowing RapidDeploy to be a part of your public safety community. Together, we are transforming emergency response.
