The devastating impact of Cyclone Freddy in Malawi prompted an urgent and coordinated response to provide assistance and relief to affected communities. This presented an opportunity to perform an in-depth analysis of the utilization of drone & data technology during the emergency response and how the technology can be efficiently stream lined in the future responses.

Cyclone Freddy made its initial landfall in Malawi on March 13, 2023, primarily affecting the southern region. The cyclone brought record-breaking rainfall to most areas, which caused flooding and mudslides that affected thousands of households, claimed so many lives, and made access extremely difficult. Due to the growing popularity of drones, the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) engaged the African Drone and Data Academy via the Emergency Response Unit to join the Malawi Red Cross and WFP team with drone mapping efforts in the affected areas. The primary objective was to provide preliminary information in the form of still images, videos, and orthomosaics to the EOC for use in logistical programming for the distribution of relief supplies and to visually assess the magnitude of damage that the cyclone had left behind. The integration of drone technology into the emergency response operations yielded significant benefits and outcomes such as:

• Rapid Data Collection: Drones facilitated the collection of high-resolution imagery and videos in a relatively short span of time, providing quick and accurate situational awareness for decision-makers.

• Improved Damage Assessment: The orthomosaics generated from the drone imagery allowed for a comprehensive understanding of the extent and severity of the damage caused by the cyclone, aiding in prioritizing response efforts.

While the drone-based emergency response demonstrated significant potential, several data and operational gaps were identified during the process and these insights serve as valuable lessons for future emergency responses.