Find answers to some frequently asked questions about the Genasys Protect platform.
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Why are evacuation zones important?
What will happen once it’s time to evacuate?
Is there a Genasys Protect mobile app?
How can I follow a zone to receive notifications?
The app does not let me follow another zone. How can I follow additional zones?
Why am I not receiving notifications for any zone changes?
Where does the information in Genasys Protect come from and who keeps it updated?
Did my county participate in developing our evacuation zones in Genasys Protect?
Can I evacuate before my zone is under an Evacuation Order or Evacuation Level 3 status?
Why is my zone identifier so cryptic? Why doesn’t it just have a name?
Do I need to pay to use Genasys Protect?
Can I find evacuation shelters in Genasys Protect?
What is Genasys Protect?
Genasys Protect is an evacuation management tool that helps communities and first responders more effectively plan, communicate, and execute evacuations. It is a platform where residents can look up their addresses using the search bar and use the zone map to find evacuation information for their area.
Why are evacuation zones important?
Pre-established evacuation zones help fire, law, and emergency service agencies prepare for, streamline, and reduce confusion around the evacuation process so that roads are clear for those who need to evacuate quickly. By evacuating the most at-risk zones first, emergency personnel are able to manage the traffic flow and more easily prevent the traffic jams that occur when an entire town or city tries to evacuate all at the same time. It also provides a common reference system for all first responders and the community.
How does the search work?
You can use the search bar to look up your address, which will show you the zone your address lies in, as well as the status of that zone and some additional information. In the app, you will also be able to follow your zone. You can also search for specific zone IDs if you know them.
When I enter my address into the Genasys Protect site, why don’t I see the best route to evacuate? How will I know where I should go?
Evacuation routes are always incident-specific because the best route to take is always relative to the location and type of threat. When an emergency evacuation occurs, make sure to check your county’s alerts and open Genasys Protect to review the status of your zone. When it’s time to evacuate, pay close attention to your surroundings and look out for law enforcement directing traffic.
To prepare further, you should become familiar with your zone, both on the platform and out in the real world. Take the time to walk or drive around areas in your zone that you are less familiar with and locate the fastest routes to nearby major roadways to ensure you are familiar with the various ways of getting in and out during an emergency. Ideally, you should be able to find your way even without access to a map or if you lose internet access. We recommend taking a screenshot of your zone and its surrounding area, printing it out, and drawing out multiple potential exits that you can reference in the case of a disaster.
What will happen once it’s time to evacuate?
During an emergency, first responders will alert you to the threat through your county’s alert system (via text, call, or email) and may also post updates on social media. If you have not registered for your county’s alert system, do so now to ensure that you are in the loop (if you don’t know how to register for alerts, check out this article). Pay close attention to the zones that have an Evacuation Warning and mandatory Evacuation Orders. You can check to see if your zone has been affected at protect.genasys.com.
Is there a Genasys Protect mobile app?
The Genasys Protect mobile app for Apple and Android can be downloaded on your devices. For iOS, we support the OS 11.0 or above. For Android, we support OS 9 and above. Simply search for 'Genasys Protect' on the App Store or Play Store. The app contains all the same functions as the website, with the additional feature of being able to follow a zone to receive push notifications about status changes to that zone.
How can I follow a zone to receive notifications?
To follow a zone in the app, use the search function or select the zone from the map. In the zone pop-up, click the 'More details' link. In the top right, next to the zone ID, there will be a star and the word 'Follow.' Toggle this on and confirm in the prompt to follow the zone. You can follow up to five zones.
The app does not let me follow another zone. How can I follow additional zones?
The current version of the app only supports following five zones, but future releases may increase that number.
If I turn on notifications, what types of alerts will I receive? Will I receive alerts based on my location?
If you use the option to always share your location with the app, you will be able to receive zone status change alerts for your current location. Every time there is a change in status of the zone you are currently located in, you will get an alert. Note that the app checks for location every 15 minutes, so if there is a change in that gap, you will not receive an alert.
If you choose to follow a zone, you will be able to receive zone status change alerts for your followed zones. Every time there is a change in status for any of the zones you follow, you will receive an alert.
We work with local officials who are partnered with us. This means if you are located in an area where we do not have a partnership with the local officials, you will not receive alerts.
There are two types of alerts you might receive: Critical alerts and normal alerts. Critical alerts are alerts that pertain to life safety, such as Shelter in Place, Evacuation Orders and Warnings or Evacuation Level 3 and Level 2 depending on your state evacuation statuses. These critical alerts will still notify you and make a noise even if your phone is on Do Not Disturb or on silent. Normal alerts are alerts that pertain to less urgent evacuation statuses, such as Advisory, Evacuation Level 1, Evacuation Order Lifted, or returning to Normal. These alerts behave as regular push notifications and follow your device settings.
For alerts to work, and in order to make the best use of the app, it is recommended to turn on notifications and allow the app to always use your location. Please note we do not collect or share location information. It is only intended to ensure your safety by enabling location-based alerts.
Why am I not receiving notifications for any zone changes?
If you are not receiving notifications, check to make sure you have notifications turned on for the Genasys Protect app, be sure your location sharing is set to always on so you can receive location-based alerts, double check you are following the zones you wish to receive notifications for, and ensure you are using the latest version of the app.
What’s the difference between Genasys Protect and Google or Apple Maps? Can I plug in an address and get directions to another location?
Genasys Protect is not a navigation tool like Google or Apple Maps, which means you cannot plot directions or receive evacuation directions.
We recommend downloading the Waze app and using it to navigate during an emergency, as Genasys automatically sends road and zone closure information to Waze, which you will be able to see and use to determine your evacuation route. However, please remember that it is crucial to always follow directions from emergency response personnel first and foremost, and connectivity may fail during an emergency, so don’t rely on navigation apps to tell you where to go. Be sure to know your area, and have several different evacuation routes planned from your house.
Where does the information in Genasys Protect come from and who keeps it updated?
Your county worked directly with Genasys to add and approve all of the information for your zone, and the appointed emergency response personnel update the statuses and information during emergencies.
Did my county participate in developing our evacuation zones in Genasys Protect?
Yes! All of the zones in Genasys Protect have been developed and approved through close collaboration with law, fire, and emergency service agencies in your county.
Can I evacuate before my zone is under an Evacuation Order or Evacuation Level 3 status?
You can certainly evacuate early, or if you see an immediate threat. An incident may behave unpredictably and rapidly, meaning it is possible that your zone status may not always be updated ahead of the threat. If you feel unsafe, evacuate immediately. Genasys Protect is simply a resource to give you additional information to help you make evacuation decisions.
Why is my zone identifier so cryptic? Why doesn’t it just have a name?
The first three letters represent your city’s name (or if you are in an unincorporated area - your county), the E is short for Evacuation, and the last three numbers are the unique code that distinguishes your zone from the others in your area. This system is consistent across your county and makes it easy for first responders to plan and execute evacuations. The zone identifier system provides each zone with a globally unique ID so there is no confusion about which zone is being referred to.
I noticed that my zone has a letter attached on the end of it. What is the difference between zone E005 and E005-A?
During an incident, first responders may need to split your zone into multiple sections in order to evacuate community members or repopulate a zone in the most effective way. If your zone contains a letter on the end (example: E005-A, E005-B, E005-C), this means that your original zone (E005) was split up. Type in your address at protect.genasys.com to make sure you have the right information and follow all instructions for the zone you are given.
Do I need to pay to use Genasys Protect?
No, you do not need to pay. The cost of Genasys Protect is paid for by your local government, either through tax dollars, or through grants or nonprofits. You can access Genasys Protect any time at protect.genasys.com.
Can I find evacuation shelters in Genasys Protect?
Yes, you will have the ability to view temporary evacuation points, which include evacuation centers, animal shelters, and other resources. Generally, these evacuation points are not visible to the community until an emergency occurs because the location must be relative to the location and type of incident.