Commissioners call a special meeting to talk about drones
By Terry Murry on Friday, August 9th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – (News release from Emergency Manager Sage DeLong) Umatilla County has scheduled a special board meeting to discuss the urgent need for drone flights to accurately map the fire-affected areas outside of Pilot Rock. This meeting will take place at the Stafford Hansell Government Center in Hermiston, Oregon, at 3:30 PM today (Friday).
Recent fires in the area have highlighted significant gaps in the current maps, which have created challenges for local ranchers and farmers. Without precise documentation of the fire’s impact, they may not qualify for disaster relief.
To address this issue, Umatilla County is considering the deployment of drones to map the entire fire perimeter. These drone flights will provide essential data for areas, ensuring that all affected lands are accurately documented. Once the perimeter is mapped, the information will be sent to the County GIS for verification and integration into updated maps. This effort will facilitate the processing of disaster relief claims and ensure that affected parties receive the support they need.
