By Joe Grupalo, Senior Training Specialist at Genasys Inc. and retired Fire Battalion Chief
Key Takeaways:
- Rather than relying on public messaging to inform constituents, public safety agencies benefit from providing a public facing platform and mobile app that makes proactive, real-time updates available to the public at all times.
- By utilizing a zone-based communications messaging app and empowering users with control over non-critical alerts they receive, you build trust with community members and strengthen your position when an emergency requires expert coordination and swift action.
- Using real-time communications daily improves emergency readiness and agency efficiency by cutting routine inquiries and optimizing resources.
Safety isn’t just about emergencies, it’s about everyday awareness and notifying your community members of the routine and unexpected events that take place where they live and work.
When your community members rely on consumer-based apps (like WhatsApp and Nextdoor.com) to find out about public safety related information, they often don’t get the full and accurate story, or they have to weed through tons of messages to find the information that is pertinent to them.
Genasys EVAC is a real-time map-based communications tool that allows you to provide precise, zone-specific notifications about everything from large scale emergencies like wildfires and floods to routine operations such as road closures, utility shutdowns, event updates for those who live or travel through your community. EVAC’s accompanying public facing map ensures the community can always access trusted information from public officials on their surroundings, while the app enables them to receive critical updates relevant to their location as they move around.
Not only is EVAC a trusted operational tool for day-to-day communications within public safety agencies, as well as a vital component of emergency response plans, but it can be leveraged as an effective community resource with multiple uses. blic alike, EVAC delivers a cohesive communications approach that enhances community safety, builds public trust, and transforms the landscape of public safety communications.
Zone-Based Messaging that Communicates Vital Information to the Public
To ensure precise and efficient communication, EVAC’s zones are built based on multiple factors including GIS data, population and demographic insights, historical hazard patterns, and critical infrastructure locations. Once the zones are configured, agencies can send hyper-targeted updates to specific communities without overwhelming the broader public. These intelligent zones can be developed with area-specific GIS integration and layers that allow local insights to be custom tailored based on specialized criteria.
Real-World Applications for EVAC Every Day
From notifications for weather-related street closures to community event parking updates to neighborhood-level crime notifications, EVAC’s versatility allows public agencies to use it for a nearly endless list of different scenarios and operations, keeping citizens informed while maximizing ROI beyond emergency-only platforms.
Consider these non-emergent situations where direct messaging with community members and visitors would be highly beneficial:
- Infrastructure & Roadway Issues
- Road closures, construction slowdowns, and utility work/service interruptions
- Event Communication & Crowd Management for Local Festivals, Sporting Events, Parades, and Large Concerts
- Traffic updates and parking notifications
- Real-time alerts to vendors, attendees, and internal teams
- Public Utility and Health Alerts
- Alert residents of spraying activities, utility outages, or compromised sewer systems
- Communicate water quality hazards like red tide and algae blooms
- Empower EMS Teams
- Coordinate responses for medical incidents and vehicle accidents
Transparency Within the Community Builds Trust
Building trust with the public starts with transparency—clear, consistent, and timely communication that empowers communities with accurate information. With EVAC, public safety agencies can share real-time updates, explain decisions, and provide visibility into both day-to-day operations and emergency response actions.
EVAC gives users control over the alerts they receive. Some may want only critical emergency notifications tied to their home or current location. Others might choose to follow multiple addresses—for schools, workplaces, or family members—and receive broader updates. This flexibility reduces alert fatigue by letting people decide what’s important to them. It also reinforces trust: the system respects users’ preferences rather than overwhelming them.
This openness fosters a two-way relationship where the public feels informed and included, reducing misinformation and increasing compliance during critical situations. When people trust the messages they receive, they’re more likely to act on them, making transparency not just a communication strategy, but a cornerstone of community resilience.
The EVAC public-facing map is designed for intuitive use, helping community members easily find relevant information. Users can simply enter an address, just like they would in tools such as Google Maps, to see updates specific to that location. This familiar, map-based interface removes barriers to access and encourages regular engagement by making the system easy to navigate, even for those who aren’t tech-savvy.
Communities that have initiated EVAC successfully have leveraged public events, training and seminars, and social media to get the word out about how to access and use the website and app. These events are an opportunity to connect with members of the community in a positive and supportive way and have given numerous benefits in terms of relationship building and goodwill. The added benefit—engaged communities are more responsive during true emergencies.
Choose a Smarter Way to Stay Connected to Your Community
We live in a world where public safety depends on awareness and real-time communications. The vast majority of your constituents are getting their information online—it should be you providing the most accurate information in real time.
The new standard of care in community safety is communications in seconds, not minutes. While it used to be acceptable to issue information on the local news or through social media, today’s community members want their information as soon as possible and EVAC is a way to ensure the right information gets to the exact people who need it—zone by zone.
Learn more about EVAC’s day-to-day operational benefits for public agencies here, including the common operating picture it creates. And learn about EVAC’s capabilities during emergencies, like floods, hurricanes, wildfires, here and here.
Contact Genasys to learn more about EVAC’s potential as a strategic tool that enhances operational integrity and community messaging and safety.
