Question 1

How fast can we send emergency alerts to residents?

Accepted Answer

EvacRoster sends SMS alerts to all residents in seconds. In a test with 500 units, residents received alerts within 90 seconds of broadcast. Emergency alerts reach 98% of residents within 2 minutes because SMS delivery is nearly instantaneous and doesn't rely on app installation or internet connectivity.

Question 2

Can we target alerts to specific floors or units?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can send alerts building-wide or segment by floor, wing, or specific units. This is critical for partial evacuations or localized incidents (e.g., gas leak on Floor 3) to avoid unnecessary panic and help emergency responders prioritize.

Question 3

What if residents don't have smartphones?

Accepted Answer

EvacRoster sends SMS text messages, which work on any phone with basic texting. You can also export a PDF or offline HTML roster that building staff can print or reference without internet. SMS reaches ~99% of the population, making it the most reliable fallback channel.

Question 4

Can residents update their own information?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Residents complete a simple intake form (takes ~2 minutes) to self-report mobility limitations, medical training, languages spoken, and resources (generators, fire extinguishers, etc.). No staff data entry required. Updates sync instantly to your dashboard.

Question 5

What if we want to switch platforms later?

Accepted Answer

You can export all resident data as CSV/PDF anytime. There's no vendor lock-in. You own your data and can migrate to another platform or keep working with EvacRoster if it keeps working for you.

Question 6

How much does EvacRoster cost?

Accepted Answer

EvacRoster is free for up to 3 buildings. Paid plans start at $1/unit/month and scale up based on features (SMS broadcasts, advanced filtering, resident management). There's no 'contact sales' wall—pricing is transparent upfront. Most buildings pay $1-4/unit/month depending on tier.

Question 7

Do we need IT involvement to set up EvacRoster?

Accepted Answer

No. EvacRoster is self-serve. You can set up your building, invite residents, and send your first alert in under 5 minutes. No vendor configuration required, no contracts, no implementation team. It integrates with most property-management systems via API if needed.

Question 8

What happens if our building is offline or loses power?

Accepted Answer

SMS alerts still work—they're delivered over the cellular network independent of your building's internet. You can export an offline HTML roster that works without power or signal, giving staff a printed or cached version of resident information at the assembly point.

Question 9

Can we see which residents didn't respond to an alert?

Accepted Answer

Yes. After each alert, you get a report showing confirmed responses, no-responses, and failed deliveries. Staff can follow up with non-responders to ensure they received and understood the message.

Question 10

Is EvacRoster compliant with building codes?

Accepted Answer

EvacRoster helps you meet fire and life-safety requirements by collecting resident emergency information, tracking resident accountability, and enabling rapid two-way communication during emergencies. Always verify compliance with your local fire marshal or building authority, as codes vary by jurisdiction.

Question 11

How is resident data secured?

Accepted Answer

All resident data is encrypted in transit and at rest. EvacRoster uses AWS infrastructure with industry-standard security (SOC 2 compliance pending). You can control who has access to resident data. Sensitive fields are encrypted separately.

Building safety made simple.

The information gap

Half your residents speak another language

The people who need help aren't on any roster

Resources are scattered across units

Inspectors ask for proof; you have memory

Three simple steps

Residents self-report

You see the floor map

Building notifications

Built for building management

Building overview dashboard

Multi-language intake

PDF + offline roster

Audit trails

Building broadcasts

Smart filtering

How EvacRoster compares

Frequently asked questions

Ready to get started?