YCOEM & YCSO Announces Genasys Evac
Published on April 24, 2024
Yavapai County, Arizona: The Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management (YCOEM) and Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) proudly announce the vital enhancement in emergency evacuations for residents who live in unincorporated areas of Yavapai County, with the purchase of Genasys EVAC. This advanced zone-based evacuation tool, adopted by various communities nationwide, assists in streamlining evacuations and communication during emergencies.
Over the past few months, YCOEM, in collaboration with YCSO, Yavapai County Geographic Information Systems, Genasys, and various fire partners from local, state, and federal agencies, have sectioned unincorporated Yavapai County into zones. Each zone has the prefix “YCU” followed by a unique four-digit zone identifier (for example, YCU-0123).
The introduction of Genasys EVAC brings with it the launch of the public-facing platform, Genasys Protect. Genasys Protect allows the public to access crucial information, including:
- Evacuation zones
- Location of American Red Cross and animal shelters
- Road closures and road updates
- Sandbag station locations
- Additional emergency resources
Residents can use Genasys Protect by visiting www.protect.genasys.com or by downloading the free Genasys Protect app from the app store. To easily find out your designated zone, the public can enter the addresses of homes, workplaces, schools, and other important locations in unincorporated Yavapai County into Genasys Protect. This feature enables residents to "Know Your Zone."
"Over the past two years, we've been deeply involved in various evacuation zone initiatives, working to determine the most effective ways to implement these critical strategies in Yavapai County," explained Ashley Ahlquist, Emergency Manager. "With the Board of Supervisors' approval last December, we were able to move forward. This development is crucial for enhancing coordination among public safety agencies and broadening our communication with the community in all types of situations, not just emergencies. I am thankful for the support from the Board and the Sheriff's Office, which has been instrumental in advancing this initiative.”
YCOEM and YCSO urges all residents to embrace Genasys Protect, as well as register for the current Emergency Notifications System, Everbridge, at www.ycsoaz.gov. This registration is vital for receiving timely and targeted alerts during emergencies. In an emergency, YCSO will send an Everbridge notification including a link to the Genasys Protect map, indicating which zones are in SET, GO, or under different emergency conditions.
For more information and to make sure you are prepared for any emergency, please visit www.yavapaiready.gov/KnowYourZone. Familiarize yourself with the Genasys Protect platform and enhance your readiness for a safer tomorrow.