In April 2011, the southeastern United States experienced one of the worst tornado outbreaks in history. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Severe Storms Laboratory, “During a 4-day period from April 25-28, 2011, more than 200 tornadoes occurred in five southeastern states. The deadliest part of the outbreak was on April 27, when a total of 122 tornadoes resulted in 319 deaths. The event was one of the deadliest since formal record keeping began in 1950.”
The state of Alabama, specifically, was hit by an unprecedented wave of destruction. Over the course of just 18 hours, 62 tornadoes tore across the state, killing 252 people and injuring thousands. The devastation was immense, with at least two of the tornadoes reaching EF-5 intensity with estimated wind speeds as high as 210 miles per hour.
Hexagon’s role in enhancing the overall response in Alabama
Throughout the disaster, technology played a critical role in keeping people connected to emergency services. The Huntsville-Madison County 911 Center handled an extraordinary call volume, taking about 1,700 calls during the outbreak, and not a single call was missed.
Dispatch technology provided by Hexagon was instrumental in helping the center manage the crisis, ensuring that every emergency call was answered. According to Huntsville-Madison County 911 Center CEO Ernie Blair, Hexagon’s systems played a vital role at the 911 center during the April 27 tornadoes, helping first responders stay organized and communicate effectively amid widespread devastation.
In an interview with al.com, Blair said, “On April 27, we had this wonderful system that stood up to it on our worst day.”
Today’s increase in global natural disasters
Unfortunately, the Alabama tornadoes were not an isolated tragedy; they are part of a troubling increase in natural disasters that continues today.
For example, the number of federally declared disasters in the U.S. has increased over the past few decades. In 1980, the U.S. experienced 12 major disaster declarations. By 2020, that number had risen to 108. This increase is not limited to tornadoes; it includes a wide array of natural disasters.
Hurricanes are becoming more frequent and more destructive. Warmer ocean temperatures and rising sea levels driven by climate change are contributing to the intensification of these storms.
This isn’t just a U.S. problem. In 2023, Europe saw its warmest year on record alongside widespread flooding. In 2024, Spain faced catastrophic floods in regions like Andalusia, Murcia and Valencia after torrential rains in late May and June. Overall, these climate-driven events highlight the urgent need for smarter disaster preparedness across the globe.
An AI-enabled future for natural disaster response
As the frequency and impact of natural disasters continue to increase, public safety agencies must evolve. Traditional response models are no longer enough. Communities can now depend on technologies that enhance real-time decision-making, increase situational awareness and help agencies stay ahead of fast-moving events.
AI and advanced analytics are transforming the way public safety organizations operate. Today’s solutions can detect patterns across multiple data streams, flag anomalies as they emerge and deliver insights that empower faster and smarter responses. Whether responding to a tornado, flood or hurricane, teams can act with greater confidence by being supported with clear, contextual information that aligns the right resources to the right moments.
This isn’t about replacing people. It’s about augmenting their ability to make life-saving decisions under pressure. By using technologies like machine learning, natural language processing and predictive analytics, agencies can now unlock a new level of operational efficiency and agility.
As we reflect on past tragedies like the April 27 tornadoes, there are emerging tools and technologies that help us respond faster, act smarter and ultimately save more lives.
Ben Ernst
Ben Ernst is the vice president and general manager for North America Public Safety at Hexagon’s Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial division. With more than 20 years of experience in technology solutions, he leads a team of professionals in the public safety industry, implementing mission-critical CAD and RMS systems for our nation’s first responders.
