Tink, a cougar found in a Tulsa, Okla., backyard in 2011, was captured and relocated to Riverside Park and Ralph Mitchell Zoo in Independence, Kan. However, in 2019, the cougar escaped her enclosure. Thanks to the Montgomery County Emergency Services drone program, Tink was spotted in a nearby tree before she could leave the zoo property. These drones, funded in part by Atmos Energy, helped to keep a cougar from roaming the prairies of southeast Kansas and presenting a danger to the surrounding community. 

“Montgomery County Emergency Services is a central hub to multiple services throughout the county, helping the helpers and supporting large scale efforts,” said Aaron Bishop, Atmos Energy public affairs manager. “Rick Whitson, the Montgomery County director of emergency management, provides administration for rural areas and works closely with local fire departments in larger towns like Independence and Coffeyville – but he also aids the small towns we serve in Montgomery County.” 

Atmos Energy assists Montgomery County Emergency Services (MCES) in responding to natural gas emergencies and supports its county efforts, while MCES helps Atmos Energy distribute information to natural gas customers. With Rick’s assistance, Atmos Energy was also able to connect with and provide $8,000 to local fire departments, supporting their efforts in Coffeyville and Independence. Our partnership began in the summer of 2017 when Operations Supervisor Eddie Rodgers introduced Aaron and Rick.  

“Rick began seeking community support for the program after learning about the benefits of drones at a Kansas Emergency Management Association conference,” said Aaron. “Over the past five years, Atmos Energy has donated $11,000 to the MCES drone program, allowing Rick to purchase an initial fleet of six drones to assist first responders in the area.” 

Montgomery County Emergency Services’ mission statement is “to assist responding agencies and jurisdictions with planning, preparing, responding to and recovering from all emergencies and disasters by providing expertise, leadership, resources and advocacy to ensure a safer, more resilient community.” The MCES drone team is housed and operated from multiple locations across the county. With trained pilots on call, drones are ready 24/7 to be utilized for everything from emergency situations to routine public safety events.  

“We are extremely thankful to Atmos Energy for making these resources possible,” said Rick. “The drone program has already been used in several safety-related and lifesaving ways. Each drone has capabilities that provide vital operational data to incident command while enhancing safety for first responders.” 

The MCES drones have thermal imaging to mitigate darkness or low visibility instances; spotlights to light up an area for safety; and an audio system including speakers that allows the drone operator to communicate with those on-site. Several drones in the fleet can be flown inside buildings, keeping first responders safe in dangerous or smoke-filled situations. These drones have been used to provide aerial video of structure fires, water rescues, and wildland fires, as well as to pinpoint water leaks, evaluate large septic systems, and support law enforcement. They were even used to locate Tink when she escaped her zoo enclosure. 

To learn more about Montgomery County Emergency Services, click here.