Boston Upgrades Response System, Unifying Its Message

The city of Boston is replacing its mass notification system with a cloud-based dashboard, reporting and notification system by Genasys that consists of a platform that provides real-time collaboration between departments and stakeholders. It will allow the city to send emergency and non-emergency notifications to specific geographic areas, citizen lists and staff through single or multiple communication channels.

The Genasys Protect communications platform will help keep city residents and nearly 23 million visitors apprised of infrastructure updates and improvements and inform them of severe weather and other potential hazards.

It’s the same system being used by the Boston Red Sox that facilitates precise zoning of communities during disasters though mapping, allowing certain neighborhoods and jurisdictions to receive specific notifications.

It also allows for a unified operating picture so that first responders can reap the benefits of real-time data feeds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in a single command-and-control system shared by emergency personnel.

The platform includes the ability for targeted multichannel alert saturation, meaning emergency managers can blanket response zones with location-appropriate messaging to inform citizens or evacuate them efficiently with geography-specific messaging. Pre-established channels and alerts ensure that the right people get the message simultaneously through a multitude of platforms, including TV, radio and social media.