Yolo County Upgrades to New Evacuation System

The following is a press release from the County of Yolo :

Yolo County is introducing a new evacuation notification platform going live today, November 7, called Genasys Protect EVAC. This upgraded platform will be used to provide ongoing and more responsive and informative evacuation notices to residents during an emergency, including real-time updates. This platform replaces the previous county program specifically called "Know Your Zone." Genasys Protect EVAC will provide ongoing follow-up notices after the initial Alert Yolo evacuation has been given; Alert Yolo was launched in Yolo County in September 2024. Alert Yolo and Genasys Protect EVAC are part of the unified structure and database for evacuation noticing throughout the region and will work in tandem for seamless community updates and awareness.

Genasys Protect EVAC enables Yolo County and its partners to designate specific evacuation zones throughout the county, playing a vital role in emergency planning and coordination among fire and law enforcement organizations. Residents will still need to be familiar with zone-based evacuation terminology and management that will enhance situational awareness, provide a unified operational picture for first responders, speed up decision-making, improve communication and collaboration with agencies, integrate zone-based maps on county and municipal websites, and increase community awareness of evacuation planning efforts through real-time updates.

To familiarize yourself with your zone, follow these quick steps:

• Visit Protect.Genasys.com or download the mobile app for Apple and Android.
• Enter your address into the interactive map search bar and locate your residence.
• Record your zone or bookmark the webpage.
• After downloading the app, you can identify your zone, subscribe for alerts, and receive critical notifications about evacuations in that area.
• Make sure you are registered for emergency alerts at www.AlertYolo.org or by texting YOLO to 888-777. Alert Yolo provides notifications about emergencies, including information on which zones are being evacuated. Additional details on evacuation points and shelters will be available on the Genasys Protect website and app for those who are out of town and signed up for zone notifications. These two platforms work together to ensure the community receives essential information.

"During an emergency, community members need accurate, real-time information about safe evacuation routes and other important resources," states Lucas Frerichs, Chair of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. "I'm thrilled that the new Genasys Protect EVAC platform will provide this crucial information. Residents who sign up for Alert Yolo messages will be directed to use the Genasys Protect EVAC platform to stay informed about current emergencies. By leveraging advanced technology, we are ensuring that our community has the resources needed to stay safe."

Genasys Protect EVAC offers a comprehensive set of evacuation management tools that enable fire services, law enforcement, and the Yolo County Office of Emergency Services (OES) to easily create and maintain evacuation plans, conduct accurate evacuation simulations and training scenarios, and significantly reduce the time from recognizing an incident to notifying the community during a real emergency. EVAC is the only platform that provides a unique set of data-driven decision support tools, helping emergency responders determine the proper scope of an evacuation before issuing an order, replacing guesswork with intelligence.

"By providing real-time information and coordination, Genasys Protect EVAC will empower our first responders and keep our community informed and safe, reinforcing our commitment to protecting every resident in times of crisis," says Kristin Weivoda, Chief of Emergency Services for Yolo County. For further questions, please visit www.YoloCounty.gov/OES.

About Genasys: Genasys is a global provider of critical communications systems and solutions that help protect and keep people safe. The company's unified software-as-a-service and hardware platform includes Genasys ALERT, Genasys Protect emergency evacuation resources, the National Emergency Warning System (NEWS), the Integrated Mass Notification System (IMNS), and LRAD long-range communication systems. Genasys solutions are in service in more than 100 countries across diverse markets and applications, including defense, law enforcement, homeland security, public safety, emergency warning, mass notification, and critical event management. For more information, visit www.Genasys.com.