By Ken Kehmna, Senior Policy Advisor, Western Fire Chiefs
One of the most important roles law enforcement and fire rescue teams have is to keep their communities safe and well-informed when wildfires and other natural disasters strike. To manage this responsibility efficiently, it is critical to provide fast, accurate, and timely communication to the public so they can learn about evacuation orders, shelters, traffic problems, and hazards in real time.
Genasys EVAC and the Genasys Protect citizen site and mobile app provide a powerful platform that streamlines your evacuation management processes and delivers critical, life-saving communication directly to residents, businesses, and visitors within your community.
By introducing the citizen site and mobile app as part of a community-wide initiative, your community will be ready when disaster strikes. Additionally, as a zone-based evacuation management tool, the site and mobile app will provide critical information at a glance. Information including evacuation status, where to go for safe shelter, air quality updates to protect against wildfire smoke, pet and livestock friendly shelter locations, and when they can return home.
Genasys EVAC: An Essential Tool to Keep Your Community Safe
When seconds count, EVAC ensures that first responders can act swiftly, coordinate decision-making among responding agencies, and deliver real-time updates quickly and precisely to the community members impacted by the disaster in the following ways:
1. Zone-Based Communication – EVAC enables law enforcement and fire personnel to issue evacuation alerts in real time, tailoring communication to all or parts of pre-established zones as the wildfire spreads. This allows first responders to tailor their notifications based on current wind direction and fire behavior.
2. Reduce the strain on your communications center and 911 Dispatchers – 911 dispatchers can quickly be inundated with calls for updates on evacuation orders, shelters, wildfire conditions, road closures, etc. The Citizen Site and Mobile App provides residents with direct access to real-time information, reducing the number of calls to your center and tying up critical resources.
3. Improve Community Trust and Save Lives – EVAC is more than an emergency management tool—it’s a trust-building tool. Your community will value knowing they can rely on precise, timely information coming directly from first responders to protect their families, pets, and property during a crisis.
4. Wildfire Simulation – EVAC can create wildfire simulations based on real-time or customized data points including vegetation, structures, and weather conditions. Supplemented with traffic models, emergency managers and first responders can create detailed plans and practice countless “what if” scenarios or use it during an emergency.
5. Interactive Shared Maps – In fast-evolving situations, the maps provide customized information on evacuation zones, the safest routes, and any potential hazards or roadblocks. Changes can be viewed in real-time by all participating agencies so that they all work from a common operating picture as they make decisions.
6. Shelter Information – Finding shelter during an evacuation is crucial for families and livestock and pet owners. With EVAC, you can keep your community informed on shelter availability for both people and animals, giving them peace of mind when it matters most.
Protect Your Community with the Citizen Site and Mobile App
By incorporating the citizen site and mobile app into your evacuation management plan, you provide residents, businesses, and visitors with a powerful tool to stay informed about potentially dangerous situations and a clear plan to move out of harm’s way. Here are a few of the life-saving benefits:
– When time is of the essence, an app allows citizens to stay up to date in real time as the situation changes throughout the emergency event.
– The app empowers residents, businesses, and area visitors to make safe and informed decisions for their families, employees, pets, and livestock.
– Residents have access to critical information on evacuation orders, hazards, traffic flow, roadblocks, and shelter locations.
– Push notifications for evacuation updates give real-time information about disasters, eliminating the need to rely on local news or calling 911.
Streamlined Emergency Plans Make Communities Safer
When disaster strikes, fast, effective, and reliable communication saves lives. By deploying Genasys EVAC software, the citizen site, and the mobile app, you empower your community to make informed decisions and stay safe.
As first responders, you know proper preparation is key to winning the battle—now you have the technology to ensure your community is always informed and prepared. With Genasys, you’re not just managing emergencies; you’re building trust, saving lives, and ensuring your community is resilient and safe during wildfires.
Contact Genasys to learn more and schedule a demo today.
