A rescue drone capable of reaching the north end of Anna Maria Island in four minutes will join Manatee County Beach Patrol's fleet by mid-August, replacing a vehicle response that can take 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.
The drone will be stationed near the middle of Anna Maria Island and can drop flotation devices, deliver an automated external defibrillator and talk to distressed swimmers through an on-board microphone and speaker while rescue crews are en route, according to the Pulse of Manatee, which first reported the program Friday.
"It's going to help us respond to emergencies where we don't have lifeguards on the island," Division Chief Chet Brown told WTSP in a report on the program.
The five-year program costs $140,000, covering the drone itself plus maintenance, repairs and future upgrades. The Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island is contributing $25,000 toward that total, according to the Pulse of Manatee report.
Drone aims to close coverage gaps where lifeguards aren't stationed
Beach Patrol conducted more than 300 water rescues in 2025 and reunited more than 200 missing people, most of them children, with their families, according to Manatee County. The division also responded to roughly 1,400 medical incidents, including more than 350 advanced life-support calls such as cardiac arrests.
Brown said the drone will bridge coverage gaps along several miles of Manatee County coastline where no lifeguards are stationed. It can also assist in searches for missing children, lost hikers or disoriented boaters by providing aerial surveillance.
The unit earned the 2025 Beach Patrol of the Year award from the Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association, presented at the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners meeting Jan. 27. During the 2024 hurricane season, the team conducted more than 400 rescues while supporting post-storm recovery from hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton.
Beach Patrol is training a fourth pilot ahead of the rollout
Beach Patrol has three certified drone pilots and plans to train a fourth so a qualified operator is available every day of the year. The drone is scheduled to be operational by mid-August, though no specific demonstration date or county commission vote has been announced.
Residents who witness a water emergency along Manatee County beaches should call 911. Non-emergency beach safety concerns can be reported to Manatee County Beach Patrol at 941-742-5923.
