A locally led drone response becomes a blueprint for future disasters

When Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica in October 2025, a Twilio-supported Collaborative Learning Project pivoted from a community resilience pilot to a national disaster response. Jamaica Flying Labs brought together government agencies, local drone pilots, and global technology partners to produce high-resolution information for response and recovery, while  documenting the system so it could be replicated in future emergencies. The response was led locally, with international organizations providing technical capacity and surge support  rather than replacing Jamaican leadership.