May 2023 - DCA
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is CruzAware?
CruzAware is a countywide alert and warning notification system that uses multiple
channels (text, phone calls, email, etc.) to provide important information and
emergency notifications to residents.
What types of notifications/messages will I receive from CruzAware?
CruzAware may be used to alert residents and subscribers about issues impacting
safety, such as earthquakes, floods, gas leaks, power outages, fires, and other
emergency situations. Additionally, residents can subscribe to alerts related to
specific topics, such as weather, transportation/traffic or other pertinent
information.
To receive alerts that are specific to your neighborhood, be sure to include your
address in your CruzAware account. Use the “Locations” option on the left-hand
menu to include your address. You can register multiple addresses for important
locations that you frequent such as your work, school, etc.
Who can register?
Anyone who lives, works, owns property, or has friends and family in Santa Cruz
County can sign up. Visitors or people who wish to monitor events that could
impact vulnerable family members may also register.
How do I register?
Visit the registration portal at CruzAware.org to sign up for notifications and
designate how you would like to be contacted. To receive text alerts, you must add
your cellular phone number and be able to receive SMS texts. Subscribers may
register multiple phone numbers.
Will my personal information be shared with anyone?
No. Your personal information will only be used for alert and warning purposes. It will
not be shared outside of the CruzAware system, nor will it be sold or shared with
May 2023 - DCA
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
third parties.
Why do I get the pop-up message “Email is already registered” or “Number is
already registered”?
The County of Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz County Regional 911 transferred all user
information from the prior alert and notification system, CodeRed, and it is possible
that your contact data is already included in CruzAware. If you receive one of these
messages, simply return to the login screen and click on "Forgot your Password?".
Then use your email or cellular phone number to receive a temporary password.
Your cell phone must be able to receive SMS text messages.
My contact information has changed, how do I update it?
Login to the CruzAware portal and, using the menu on the left, go to the page that
includes the information that needs to be updated. Remember to click the “Update”
button when done.
How will I know if a phone call, email, or text (SMS) is coming from our Alerting
System?
Email messages will come from (cruzaware@genasys.com) and be addressed to
you, phone calls will display Caller ID with a local area code, and text messages will
use the sender ID 65513. We recommend you create a contact on your phone with
this information.
Do I need to provide an address or location?
Providing a home and/or work location is not required. However, not having a
location in the system will prevent you from receiving critical weather alerts, such as
flooding, and other alerts that are geo-targeted (i.e., location based).
What are some reasons alerts from this alerting system may not be delivered to
me?
May 2023 - DCA
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
● Your contact information is not up to date
● You did not enable the SMS checkbox
● Your phone is off or busy for an extended period
● Your email provider may have placed the email in the spam/junk
folder. (Please add cruzaware@genasys.com to your trusted mail list.)
It is recommended you have more than one contact method registered.
How do I remove my information from the system?
You can unsubscribe directly from the registration portal Login to the system portal
(shown below) and go to the unsubscribe button, then follow the prompts. This will
delete your contact data from the system.
May 2023 - DCA
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
First time user(s), select the
"Click here to register" link
Enter an email (and preferably also a
phone number that can receive text
messages) and a password.
Then select “Register“.
May 2023 - DCA
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
* These icons are on the left side of your
registration screen after sign in.
After the Account information has been completed, use the menu icons on the left
of the account page to add additional information as appropriate:
● Additional emails – home or personal email
● Additional phone numbers – add any additional numbers (alternative cell,
landline, office, family members) that you want notification sent to
● Locations – add your work, home or any other important addresses (see
next page)
May 2023 - DCA
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When adding locations, you will want to give the location a name (ex: Work or Home).
Line 1 = the street address
Line 2 = suite or apt # or may not be needed
Once Line 1, City, and State fields are completed, press the geolocate
button. Confirm the red triangle is in the correct location, then select "Create"
