Genasys INC.
NEWSLETTER
December 2022
Boulder Fire Unveils zonehaven Evacuation System in the Wake of Colorado’s Most Destructive Wildfire
As the one-year anniversary of the Marshall Fire approaches, Boulder Fire is rolling out a new evacuation system.
Wildland Fire Chief Brian Oliver says the fire was unlike any he's ever seen, comparing it to a hurricane.
"We don't mobilize firefighters or first responders to fight that - we evacuate people," he said.
But many of those who live in the burn scar area say they didn't receive any warning, and hundreds of people, including Tawnya Somauroo, ended up stuck in traffic as the fire approached.
"Louisville was a bottleneck. There was no traffic control and it put a lot of lives at risk," she said.
Oliver says a new software mapping system will be a game changer.
"The old school way of doing evacuations is an incident commander on the hood of a truck drawing on a map. It's a 25-45 minute process from when we say we need to evacuate this area to that alert getting out."
He says the new system called Zonehaven, takes as little as 60 seconds. Firefighters can evacuate areas, or zones, of the city by simply highlighting them on a preloaded map. While dispatchers still need to issue alerts, Oliver says, residents and law enforcement don't have to wait.
They can go online and see immediately which zones are evacuated or on standby.
(Courtesy of CBS Colorado)
"evacuation's the largest unsolved problem for emergency management across the entire United States"
Hours of additional body camera video released showed the difficulty of law enforcement in Boulder County in getting people evacuated from last December's Marshall Fire.
The video shows people confused and panicking. Others were moving slowly in the face of the threat of a fire driven by 100 mph winds.
"Evacuation's the largest unsolved problem for emergency management across the entire United States," said Garry Briese, executive director of the Colorado State Fire Chiefs.
(Courtesy of CBS Colorado)
SaaS – Evacuation Resources / Public Safety
City of Boulder, CO Uses Zonehaven During Sunshine wildland Fire
The City of Boulder recently released a new evacuation mapping system called Zonehaven. On Dec. 19, that mapping system got its first test. It worked well — well enough to make the county’s system seem clunky.
In the middle of the day on Monday, a structure fire up Sunshine Canyon jumped from a home to wildland fuels. With the help of gusting winds and several weeks of no moisture, the blaze, named the Sunshine Wildland Fire, quickly grew to nearly 20 acres. Those living up the canyon were placed under mandatory evacuation orders, and some neighborhoods abutting the foothills in Boulder proper were placed on evacuation warning.
The City of Boulder recently moved to Zonehaven, a “spacial awareness tool” that puts Boulder into a series of “zones.” These zones, roughly aligning to established neighborhoods, allow residents to watch real-time evacuation warnings come and go across the city. Enter your address, find your zone, and see how far you are from being evacuated.
Mike Chard, director of the Office of Disaster Management for both the City of Boulder and Boulder County, said the Sunshine Wildland Fire furthered his desire to see the entire county “on one, forward facing mapping platform” — meaning Zonehaven.
“I’d like to have [the entire county on Zonehaven] tomorrow,” he said.
Marya Washburn, the public information officer for Boulder Fire-Rescue, said the city has been practicing on Zonehaven, but the Sunshine Wildland Fire was its first real-time use.
“We learned a lot,” she said. The “rapidity” of getting information to both the public and first responders “went so much more smoothly” than previous fires.
Zonehaven is working on an application that will allow users to receive notifications whenever the status of a given zone changes — like your neighborhood being put on an evacuation advisory. That way, in our town that seems to be growing more prone to fire, you’ll give yourself the best chance of being ready for the worst.
The fire confirmed officials’ desire to move the entire county to Zonehaven and create a single, more-effective mapping platform for all.
(Courtesy of Boulder Reporting Lab)
SaaS – Evacuation Resources / Public Safety
ZONEHAVEN EVACUATION ZONE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN NAPA COUNTY, CA PROGRAM REFLECT TO PROTECT - ADDRESS SIGNS TO SAVE LIVE
Napa County Fire Safe Councils are implementing reflective address signs that are much easier for first responders to see in the dark and through smoke during wildfires. With many Napa County properties located up long driveways or behind locked gates, the reflective signs will also provide first responders with key information that will assist them in accessing and protecting properties during emergencies. Information related to water sources, turnarounds for fire apparatus, number of buildings, special instructions pertaining to each property, and zone evacuation information are all critical to helping protect people and their homes.
(Courtesy of NapaFireWise and Calistoga Fire Council)
SaaS – Emergency Management / Evacuation Resources
Monterey County, CA Now covered by Genasys Emergency Management and Zonehaven
“To better protect the county’s 430,000 residents and more than 3 million annual visitors during disasters and other crisis situations, Monterey County emergency management personnel and first responders are deploying Genasys critical communications software and evacuation resources,” said Richard Danforth, Chief Executive Officer, Genasys, Inc. "16.3 million Californians are now covered by Genasys critical communications systems and evacuation resources."
Mr. Danforth continued, "Our strategic shift towards a higher-margin, recurring revenue model continues to gain momentum as evidenced by our rapid SaaS growth in California and expansion into 19 other states. Fiscal 2023 investments in software sales are expected to fuel further expansion in existing markets and propel us into new vertical markets and geographic regions.”
SaaS – Utilities
UTILITY COMPANIES in CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA AND WASHINGTON Select Genasys Emergency Management
Golden State Water Company (Golden State Water), Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA), and NW Natural in Washington are the Company's newest utility customers. Golden State Water provides water service to customers in more than 80 Northern, Coastal and Southern California communities. FMPA is a wholesale power agency owned by 31 municipal electric utilities in Florida. NW Natural serves more than 2.5 million natural gas customers across the Pacific Northwest.
“In addition to providing accurate, real-time safety alerts and notifications through multiple channels, Golden State Water and FMPA will use GEM to inform utility customers of service outages, system maintenance, and other customer-related communications,” said Richard Danforth, Chief Executive Officer, Genasys Inc. “The Golden State Water Company contract covers more than 260,000 customers. The FMPA GEM co-op agreement covers over 2.7 million home and business customers throughout Florida. NW Natural is deploying GEM to deliver alerts and internal communications to workers, staff and contractors.”
SaaS – Emergency Management / Public Safety
GENASYS awarded CONTRACT TO POWER PUBLIC SAFETY ALERTS FOR CALIFORNIA’S SECOND MOST POPULOUS COUNTY
"San Diego is the second county in Southern California to select GEM for emergency management and critical notification services,” said Richard Danforth, Chief Executive Officer, Genasys Inc. “Between San Diego County and the previously announced Riverside County contract, GEM will cover more than 5.8 million residents, 2 million housing units, and 130,000 businesses.”
Mr. Danforth added, “Emergency management agencies, first responders, and millions of Californians statewide now have access to Genasys’ unified critical communications solutions to help prepare for and protect against wildfires, flooding, debris flows, tsunamis, earthquakes, and other life safety hazards."
GEM replaced San Diego County’s previous regional notification system.
SaaS – Evacuation Resources / Public Safety
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA EXPANDS GENASYS CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS COVERAGE WITH MULTI-YEAR ZONEHAVEN CONTRACT
“Expanding the scope of our services in Riverside County shows the strength of our unified critical communications platform, the relationships we build with our customers, and the organic growth opportunities that we can capture,” said Richard Danforth, Chief Executive Officer, Genasys, Inc. “Our relationship with Riverside County began last year when GEM was selected as the county’s public safety alerting service over offerings from six other SaaS providers. Subsequently, Riverside County granted Genasys a competitively awarded Integrated Mass Notification System (IMNS) contract to provide outdoor warning for wildfire-prone communities.
“Under the GEM, IMNS and Zonehaven contracts, California’s fourth most populous county will be covered by the full suite of Genasys critical communications hardware systems and software solutions,” Mr. Danforth added. “Multichannel public safety alerts and timely evacuation notifications are vital during rapidly developing critical events. The Genasys unified platform will provide Riverside County first responders, emergency management personnel, and more than 2.5 million residents and visitors with the essential resources they need to help prepare for, and stay safe from, wildfires and other hazards.”
SaaS – Evacuation Resources / Public Safety
FOUR MORE CALIFORNIA COUNTIES CONTRACT FOR ZONEHAVEN EVACUATION SERVICES & RESOURCES
“Our evacuation platform has been utilized during some of California’s most difficult, dangerous, and life-threatening incidents over the last three years,” said Richard Danforth, Chief Executive Officer, Genasys, Inc. “Zonehaven has quickly become a standard for evacuation management in the Golden State, having been used this year in more than 50 incidents ranging from wildfires and flooding to police actions and advisories.
“First responders, emergency management personnel, and more than 400,000 residents in Calaveras, Del Norte, Madera, and Shasta counties will now have access to Zonehaven evacuation resources under these contracts,” continued Mr. Danforth. “Del Norte and Shasta join seven other heavily forested northern California counties covered by our software services that reduce evacuation time from hours to minutes.”
Integrated Mass Notification System
GENASYS DEMO DAY HELD FOR MEMBERS OF ROMANIA'S NATIONAL LEADERSHIP
With the assistance of the U.S. Embassy, Genasys held an IMNS demonstration for members of Romania's national leadership at the Romanian Gendarmerie sports base in Bucharest on October 12. Participants included a presidential advisor, the prefect of Bucharest, Romanian senators, members of the Chamber of Deputies, senior ministers and directors from National Defense, Transportation, Internal Affairs, Special Telecommunications Service, and officers from the Romanian Gendarmerie and the City of Bucharest. CNN Romania and other news organization covered the high profile demonstration supporting Romania's National Project of Voice Warning and Coordination in War Situations, Emergency Situations, or Natural Disasters. On October 14, another IMNS demonstration was held outside the Cluj Stadium in Cluj-Napoca.
(Courtesy of DC Business)
(Courtesy of CNN Romania)
Watch Video (Cluj Demo Genasys Introduction)
(Courtesy of U.S. Embassy - Romania)
Integrated Mass Notification System
IMNS INSTALLATION COMMISSIONed for WISCONSIN VALLEY IMPROVEMENT COMPANY
The Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company (WVIC) operates the Wisconsin River Reservoir System to maintain a uniform flow and a reasonable balance among the benefits the water resource provides, including water conservation, flood control, low flow augmentation, hydroelectric generation, water quality, wildlife, and recreation.
This is the third IMNS installation commissioned under the Company's contact with the WVIC. Genasys Emergency Management software and the IMNS installations will provide emergency warning broadcasts during water releases, flooding, and other life-safety hazards.
LRAD – Defense
CZECH ARMY TESTS LRAD 450XL AND LRAD 100X AT INTERNATIONAL MILITARY EXERCISE
Listening to the voice of a crying woman or child all night? Or dogs barking? This can get on the nerves of even the most experienced soldier. The Czech Army is using LRADs that are much more powerful than megaphones for PSYOPS. "An integral part of NATO's information operations is military deception and psychological influence using a loud sound reproduction system," explained specialist Jiří Jonáš "It is used to imitate sounds, including military equipment, shooting, and other sounds."
Using the LRAD 450XL, tactical teams can broadcast audio recordings with exceptional clarity from a vehicle, or from a tripod, out to a distance of 1,700 meters. LRAD voice broadcasts can be heard and understood over engine noise, crowd demonstrations, and other background noises.
(Courtesy of dénik.cz)
LRAD – Defense
LRAD 950NXT PROPOSED TO THE JAPAN MARITIME SELF DEFENSE FORCE AS SUCCESSOR TO LRAD 1000XI
At the Special Equipment Exhibition & Conference for Anti-Terrorism (SEECAT) held in Tokyo, Company representative, LR Techno Japan, exhibited Genasys' LRAD 950NXT long-range acoustic device. This latest model combines a 30X optical zoom lens, IR camera, laser rangefinder, and an automatic tracking system.
The LRAD 950NXT is remotely controlled from a bridge. LR Techno Japan has proposed it to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) as a successor to the LRAD 1000Xi.
The JMSDF has been using the manually controlled LRAD 1000Xi on destroyers since 2009.
The LRAD 950NXT could be suitable for the JMSDF’s new OPVs, a platform featuring greater automation levels for patrols in waters near Japan.
(Courtesy of Shepard Media)
LRAD – Defense / Critical Infrastructure
Norwegian frigates PROTECTING UNDERWATER GAS PIPELINES EQUIPPED WITH LRADS
Oil and gas from more than 90 Norwegian platforms are delivered to the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany and Poland.
"If that supply were to be interrupted, stopped or significantly reduced, it would cause a complete energy crisis in Europe," warned Tor Ivar Stromen, an expert at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy.
Fridtjof Nansen and sister ships have one 76-millimeter naval gun, four hand-held 12.7-millimeter machine guns each, and four remote-controlled Kongsberg "Sea Protector" turrets. The Norwegian frigates are also equipped with two "LRADs", long-range acoustic devices that can broadcast warnings.
(Courtesy of Alo!)
LRAD – Law Enforcement / Public Safety
LRAD SYSTEMS USED BY CZECH REPUBLIC LAW ENFORCEMENT AT NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS AND TRAINING EVENT
Law enforcement units and anti-conflict teams from all 14 regions gathered in Jaroměř at the Josefov Fortress to participate in protest, activist action, and large sporting event preparedness and training. Police units from Prague, Zlín, Brno, and Frýdek-Místek supplied their LRAD-equipped vehicles for crowd communication throughout the exercises.
Read More / Watch Video (Bullhorn versus LRAD comparison - 0' 00" - 1' 00")
(Courtesy of Týdeník Policie)
LRAD – Wildlife Protection
GENASYS RECEIVES FOLLOW-ON WILDLIFE PRESERVATION ORDERS
LRAD systems continue to be integrated with avian radar from DeTect, Inc. and used to humanely deter waterfowl from landing on hazardous tailing ponds or entering waste area sites of large mining operations in northern Canada.
“LRAD systems safeguard against habituation and preserve wildlife by broadcasting a near infinite variety of audible predator calls and warning tones with focused acoustic output.” said Richard. Danforth, Chief Executive Officer, Genasys Inc. “LRAD’s advanced driver and waveguide technology ensures tones and predator calls are clearly delivered above wind and background noise. The ineffectiveness of cracker shells, propane cannons, and other repetitive sound deterrents, highlight the need for our safer, more effective wildlife protection solutions.”
Company
Genasys Reports Annual Revenue up 15% to $54 Million
SaaS Platform Gaining Momentum on Strategic Investments
“Fiscal 2022 was an exceptional year. We delivered 15% growth in revenue and a positive adjusted EBITDA while accelerating our strategic shift towards a higher-margin, recurring revenue model," commented Richard S. Danforth, Chief Executive Officer of Genasys Inc. "The investments we are making in software sales and support led to key contract wins, fueled expansion in existing markets, and paved the way for entry into new markets and geographies. Our software-as-a-service (SaaS) products team expanded our unified critical communications platform into 7 countries, 19 states, and 21 California counties.
“We self-funded more than $9.0 million in SaaS platform investments and still generated positive cash from operations for the year,” added Mr. Danforth. “These investments are creating a strong economic engine to meet the growing demand for critical communications systems. After repurchasing approximately $1 million in company stock in open market transactions, we ended the year with no debt and $19.9 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. The cash generating power of our core business and the strength of our balance sheet continue to provide us with the resources and flexibility to execute our long-term growth strategy.”
Outlook
Commenting on the outlook for fiscal year 2023, Mr. Danforth stated, “We anticipate continued revenue growth in fiscal 2023. While our hardware business will start from a lower backlog than the previous year, due mainly to international hardware orders anticipated in fiscal 2022 moving into fiscal 2023, the carryover of expected orders, stronger international sales, continuing AHD deliveries to the U.S. Military, and increasing software services sales are expected to augment fiscal 2023 bookings and backlog. Further, we are building a strong base of annual recurring revenue from our software business and anticipate it will represent a larger portion of our revenue in fiscal 2023.
Company
GENASYS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AND LRAD 950NXT WIN TOP AWARDS FOR BEST ALERT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM AND BEST LONG RANGE ACOUSTIC HAILING SOLUTION, Respectively
Genasys Emergency Management (GEM) and the LRAD 950NXT were honored with ASTORS Homeland Security Platinum Awards by American Security Today (AST) during a November awards ceremony in New York City.
AST’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program that recognizes industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness Management and Response, Law Enforcement, and First Responders.
“‘ASTORS’ nominations are evaluated on their technical innovation, interoperability, specific impact within the category, overall impact to the industry, relatability to other industry technologies, and application feasibility outside of the industry,” said AST’s Editorial Director Tammy Waitt.
Genasys has been recognized as a multiple ‘ASTORS’ Awards Champion for seven consecutive years.
(Courtesy of American Security Today)
Company
GENASYS TEAMS WITH SPAIN'S LEADING FIREFIGHTING ASSOCIATION TO SUPPORT CIVIL PROTECTION DURING WILDFIRES, FLOODING, AND OTHER LIFE SAFETY THREATS
Genasys has joined the Spanish Firefighters Association (ASELF) as a protective member. Founded more than 50 years ago, ASELF currently has more than 70 protective, collaborative, or sponsoring members, among which are industry-leading companies in Fire Safety, Emergency Management, and Civil Protection.
"Wildfires in Spain are increasing in frequency, size, and intensity, with 2022 being the most extreme fire season in the last ten years," said Richard Danforth, Chief Executive Officer, Genasys Inc. "In addition to severe wildfire threats, recent torrential rain caused deadly flooding in several areas of eastern Spain. We are teaming with ASELF to expand both our support of firefighters and our work with Spain's civil protection administrations to adopt comprehensive emergency management and evacuation solutions that can help save lives."
About Genasys Inc.
Genasys® is a global provider of critical communications systems and solutions that help keep people safe. The Company's unified critical communications platform includes Genasys Emergency Management (GEM) software-as-a-service, Integrated Mass Notification System (IMNS), Zonehaven® emergency evacuation resources, National Emergency Warning Systems (NEWS), and LRAD® long-range voice communication systems.
The Genasys critical communications platform is helping to protect tens of millions of people in more than 100 countries throughout the world.
