Accessing Rescue Drone Equipment in Tennessee
GrantID: 75934
Grant Funding Amount Low: $15,000
Deadline: Ongoing
Grant Amount High: $40,000
Summary
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Grant Overview
Tennessee’s varied topography creates distinct search-and-rescue barriers in the Cumberland Plateau and Great Smoky Mountains where cell signals drop within 2 miles of trailheads. The state records an average of 180 lost-person incidents annually in areas without maintained roads, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency 2022 after-action report.
County rescue squads in Sevier, Blount, and Cocke counties operate with aging handheld radios that cannot penetrate dense forest canopy or reach valley floors from ridge lines. Volunteer teams in these counties average 14 members and lack aerial assets for rapid area coverage during nighttime or winter operations.
The grant can purchase unmanned aircraft systems with FLIR cameras, encrypted command-link radios, and lightweight litter attachment kits rated for 600-pound payloads. Devices must function at elevations between 1,000 and 6,000 feet common in the eastern third of the state.
Tennessee differs from Kentucky and North Carolina because its county-based rescue associations maintain independent radio licenses that must be reconciled with the statewide 800 MHz system before new aircraft are approved for flight.
Barrier Assessment in Tennessee Terrain
Only rescue organizations that have conducted at least 10 missions in the preceding 36 months within designated state forest or national park boundaries may apply. Documentation includes mission logs signed by the county emergency management director and proof of current memoranda with the National Park Service.
Application Realities
Proposals must include a Federal Aviation Administration remote pilot certificate list for every operator and a maintenance schedule aligned with manufacturer intervals for lithium-ion batteries in cold-weather storage. Budgets cannot exceed $85,000 per aircraft system.
Fit for Tennessee Context
Awards prioritize counties sharing boundaries with national parks or state forests where average response time exceeds 90 minutes. Successful applicants demonstrate existing agreements with the Tennessee Highway Patrol aviation unit for joint training days each quarter.
Eligible Regions
Interests
Eligible Requirements
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