In September 2021, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released Responding to Drone Calls: Guidance for Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs).

This guidance provides an overview of safe and suspicious drone flight activity and a suggested script that may be used during a drone-related call. In addition to this guidance, ECCs should refer to relevant state or local laws to inform their drone response. The guidance is provided to help ECCs understand the distinctions between proper and improper drone activity and collect the information needed to inform potential law enforcement responses.

The Responding to Drone Calls guidance includes the following major topics:

  • How Should Drones Fly?
  • What Does Suspicious Drone Flight Look Like?
  • Responding to a Drone-Related Call
    • If the drone is in flight
    • If the drone has landed or crashed
  • Additional Resources

For additional C-UAS resources from DHS, see Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Technology Guide and Protecting Against the Threat of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)