Examples of Agents

Agents are most valuable when they're watching for conditions that matter to your team — so your people don't have to. The examples below are drawn from real operational scenarios across emergency services. Each one describes a condition worth monitoring, the data source that makes it possible, and why early notification changes the outcome.

These are starting points. The conditions your team monitors, the thresholds that trigger action, and the people who need to know will all be specific to your organization.

Emergency Management

River gauge exceeds flood action threshold Condition: Has a monitored watercourse exceeded a defined flow rate or water level associated with flood risk? Craig monitors hydrometric data for designated gauges and alerts Emergency Management staff when readings cross the defined threshold — enabling early notification to downstream communities, pre-positioning of resources, and activation of flood response plans ahead of formal advisories.

Wildfire reported within a defined distance of community infrastructure Condition: Has a wildfire been reported within a specified radius of critical infrastructure — a water treatment facility, a transmission corridor, a care facility? Craig monitors wildfire incident data and notifies the Emergency Manager when a new ignition meets the proximity criteria — enabling early consequence assessment and liaison with the relevant operators before the situation escalates.

Tsunami warning issued for the jurisdiction Condition: Is there an active tsunami warning affecting the jurisdiction? Craig monitors the Tsunami NWS feed and immediately alerts the Emergency Operations duty officer — enabling rapid EOC activation, public notification through Community, and coordination with coastal municipalities without any manual monitoring required.

Fire Departments

Lightning strike activity near active crews Condition: Has lightning been detected within a defined radius of the incident area? Craig monitors lightning strike activity and alerts Incident Command when strikes are detected within the specified zone — giving crews and Air Operations advance warning before conditions become immediately dangerous.

Red Flag Warning issued for the response district Condition: Is there an active Red Flag Warning for the jurisdiction? When fire weather conditions meet warning criteria — high winds, low humidity, elevated temperatures — Craig notifies designated staff the moment a Red Flag Warning is issued. Crews can be briefed and readiness posture adjusted before conditions peak.

Wildfire ignition near a community boundary Condition: Has a new wildfire been reported within a defined distance of the community perimeter? Craig monitors active wildfire data and alerts fire and emergency management staff when a new ignition is recorded within the specified threshold — enabling earlier resource deployment and community notification decisions.

Police & Sheriff's Offices

Severe weather warning for the patrol area Condition: Is there an active severe weather warning — thunderstorm, blizzard, freezing rain — for the jurisdiction? Craig monitors weather warnings and notifies supervisors and dispatch the moment one is issued, so staffing, unit positioning, and public messaging decisions can be made ahead of conditions arriving.

Significant traffic incident on a monitored corridor Condition: Has a major traffic incident been reported on a key highway or route? Craig monitors traffic data for designated corridors and alerts relevant personnel when a significant incident — a closure, a multi-vehicle collision, a hazmat spill — is flagged. Helps supervisors get units moving and coordinate with highway authorities without waiting for a 911 call to trigger the response.

Tsunami warning issued for the coastal jurisdiction Condition: Is there an active tsunami warning for the area? Craig monitors the Tsunami NWS feed and immediately notifies designated staff when a warning is issued — enabling rapid activation of evacuation and public notification protocols without delay.

EMS

Extreme heat warning for the service area Condition: Has an extreme heat warning been issued for the jurisdiction? Craig monitors weather warnings and alerts EMS supervisors when a heat warning is issued — prompting proactive measures like increased unit staffing, pre-positioned resources in high-risk neighbourhoods, and coordination with public health.

River flood warning affecting access routes Condition: Is there an active flood warning for a watercourse that crosses primary response routes? Craig monitors flood warning data and notifies dispatch supervisors when a warning is issued for a monitored waterway — allowing routing adjustments and mutual aid conversations to begin before roads become impassable.

Freezing rain advisory for overnight shift Condition: Has a freezing rain or ice advisory been issued for the response area? Craig monitors weather warnings and alerts the oncoming shift supervisor when hazardous road conditions are forecast — prompting early decisions about unit readiness, response times, and crew safety protocols.

Wildfire Crews

River or creek gauge exceeds safe crossing threshold Condition: Has a monitored waterway exceeded a defined flow rate that affects safe access or egress from the fire area? Craig monitors hydrometric gauge data and alerts Operations when flow rates cross the defined threshold — a critical safety check for crews working in drainages where escape routes cross waterways.

New wildfire ignition within the operational zone Condition: Has a new fire been reported within the defined operational area? Craig monitors wildfire incident data and notifies the Incident Commander when a new ignition appears within the specified boundary — enabling rapid assessment of whether the new fire poses a threat to crew positions or requires immediate resource reallocation.

Aviation weather deterioration at the air base Condition: Has weather at the designated air base or drop zone fallen below defined minimums? Craig monitors aviation weather data and alerts Air Operations and ground crews when conditions deteriorate below safe operating thresholds — so stand-down decisions can be made before aircraft are already airborne.

Ground Search and Rescue

Avalanche danger rating elevated above operational threshold Condition: Has the avalanche danger rating for the search area risen above the defined operational level? Craig monitors avalanche forecast data and notifies the SAR Manager when the danger rating exceeds the threshold — prompting a terrain review and, where necessary, a stand-down or route change before teams are deployed.

Weather deterioration during an active search Condition: Has a weather warning been issued for the search area? Craig monitors weather warnings and alerts the Incident Commander when a warning is issued during an active operation — giving Planning section early notice to adjust the operational period, recall field teams, or request helicopter stand-by.

River gauge rising toward unsafe levels at a search location Condition: Has a watercourse within or adjacent to the search area exceeded a defined water level? Craig monitors hydrometric data for designated gauges and alerts Operations when levels rise above the threshold — particularly relevant for searches in riparian terrain where rising water affects team safety and subject survivability.

Marine Search and Rescue

Marine weather warning issued for the response area Condition: Is there an active marine weather warning — gale, storm, or special marine warning — for the designated zone? Craig monitors marine weather warnings and notifies the duty coxswain and operations coordinator the moment one is issued — enabling early go/no-go conversations and crew briefings before a launch decision is required.

Tidal conditions reaching defined threshold at a monitored location Condition: Has the tide at a monitored bar, passage, or inlet reached a level that affects safe navigation? Craig monitors tide data for designated locations and alerts crew when tidal height or the timing of a high or low crosses a defined threshold — particularly useful for teams operating near hazardous tidal features where the window for safe transit is narrow.

Tsunami warning issued for the coastal area Condition: Is there an active tsunami warning for the jurisdiction? Craig monitors the Tsunami NWS feed and immediately notifies designated crew and shore-side coordination staff — enabling rapid vessel repositioning, public notification support, and coordination with harbour authorities without waiting for manual confirmation.