HOPKINSVILLE, KY – The Pennyrile Area Development District (PeADD) took another important step toward regional disaster preparedness Monday, by hosting a drone training session at its Hopkinsville office on Monday, July 22, 2025.
This hands-on training was conducted as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts under the 2023 Disaster Supplemental Funding – Disaster Resiliency Capacity Building Project, made possible through a $588,092 award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).
The training marked a milestone in PeADD’s commitment to enhancing emergency response capabilities throughout the region. Each of the nine Emergency Management offices across the Pennyrile region received a drone unit through this initiative. The drones are intended to support local emergency management personnel in disaster response and recovery efforts, providing real-time aerial assessments, search and rescue assistance, and damage documentation during times of crisis.
“This training ensures that our local emergency teams are equipped not only with the tools, but also the knowledge to deploy these resources effectively during critical incidents,” said Amy Frogue, Director of Community & Economic Development at PeADD. “It’s a major step in strengthening the region’s resilience and responsiveness.”
The drone training empowered Pennyrile’s local emergency management professionals with both innovative technology and collaborative knowledge-sharing to enhance the region’s disaster readiness. For more information on PeADD’s disaster resiliency efforts, visit www.peadd.org.