Company offering free evacuation software during wildfire season

As multiple Utah communities continue to face wildfire threats this summer, Utah-based RDAP Pro has announced the launch of its Community Preparedness Initiative, offering its emergency evacuation management platform free of charge to qualifying communities, emergency management agencies and churches.

The initiative is designed to help communities better prepare for and manage evacuations before, during and after disasters. For a limited time, qualifying organizations may use RDAP Pro EOC software to facilitate safe and effective emergency evacuations at no cost during an actual emergency incident or to conduct one full-scale community evacuation exercise.

“We have communities in desperate need right now,” said Steve Boyack, director of sales and marketing for RDAP Pro, in a company release. “Emergency managers are making life-and-death decisions with limited information. RDAP Pro gives them real-time visibility into who has evacuated, who still needs assistance, where vulnerable populations are located, and where resources should be deployed. Better information leads to better decisions — and better decisions will save lives.”

RDAP Pro (Rapid Disaster Assessment Program) is a cloud-based emergency management platform that provides emergency operations centers (EOCs), emergency managers, first responders and community leaders with real-time situational awareness during disasters. Residents can easily securely report their evacuation status, request assistance, identify special needs, and communicate critical information directly to emergency officials using any web browser or mobile device. The system augments and improves upon existing emergency management notification systems.

The platform helps emergency managers:

• Track evacuation progress in real time.

• Identify residents who still need assistance.

• Monitor vulnerable and special-needs populations.

• Coordinate response resources.

• Maintain a common operating picture across responding agencies.

• Improve communication between emergency officials and the public.

“We want communities to have access to this technology when they need it most,” said Aaron Gilbert, president of RDAP Pro. “Just as importantly, we want communities and churches to become familiar with the platform before disasters occur by conducting evacuation exercises that improve preparedness and coordination.”

In addition to municipal agencies, RDAP Pro is available free of charge to churches and faith-based organizations. Churches can use the platform to account for members, identify welfare and humanitarian needs, coordinate volunteers, communicate with congregations, and support local emergency management agencies during disasters.

The RDAP Pro Community Preparedness Initiative includes:

• Free use of RDAP Pro during a qualifying emergency incident, or

• Free use for a community-wide evacuation exercise/drill.

• Training for emergency management personnel.

• Technical support throughout the exercise or incident.

• After-action reporting with recommendations for future improvements.

“Every community hopes they’ll never need an evacuation,” Boyack added. “But every community should be prepared for one. If we can help even one community respond faster or protect more lives, this initiative will have been worthwhile.”

Emergency managers, city and county officials, fire departments, tribal governments and church leaders interested in participating are encouraged to contact RDAP Pro at 801-899-5260.