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The Alerting Authority

Eddie Bertola and Jeannette Sutton

The Alerting Authority is a podcast dedicated to improving how we warn the public when seconds matter. Hosted by Jeanette Sutton, a leading researcher in public alerts and warnings, and Eddie Bertola, an expert in emergency communications technology, the show brings together practitioners, policymakers, technologists, and thought leaders shaping the future of public alerting.

Each episode dives deep into real-world challenges behind creating, issuing, and delivering life-saving alerts. From Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and the Emergency Alert System (EAS) to IPAWS implementation, crisis messaging, public behavior, and alerting policy, the hosts explore what works, what fails, and why.

Rather than focusing solely on tools or software, The Alerting Authority examines the “human side” of emergency communication—decision-making under pressure, message design, training gaps, coordination across agencies, and the psychology of how people interpret warnings.

The podcast aims to empower emergency managers, communicators, and public safety professionals with actionable insights, practical guidance, and candid conversations with the people who have shaped, studied, and experienced alerting at every level.

Whether you’re responsible for issuing alerts, designing systems, researching risk communication, or simply interested in how warnings save lives, The Alerting Authority is your go-to source for understanding and improving public alerting in a complex and rapidly evolving world.

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20 episodes
weekly
Avg 54 min
English

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S1 · E53
Thursday · 49 min
Historic Flooding in Colorado & Arizona: When Emergency Alerts Aren't Enough
Historic flooding in Colorado and Arizona is putting emergency alert systems, evacuation procedures, and public safety communication to the test. Are communities doing enough to reach people before disaster strikes? In this episode of The Alerting Authority, host Eddie Bertola examines emergency warnings and evacuation communications surrounding major flooding in Colorado and Arizona, including responses in Pagosa Springs, Archuleta County, and Sedona. Through real-world emergency alert examples, Eddie explores what agencies are doing well, where communication gaps can emerge, and why reaching residents and visitors requires more than a single warning system. In this episode, we discuss: Emergency evacuation warnings during historic flooding Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) vs. the Emergency Alert System (EAS) How local emergency managers can complement National Weather Service warnings Why human-recorded audio can improve emergency messaging The importance of reaching tourists and people unfamiliar with evacuation zones Why multiple alerting channels are essential for public safety Communicating with displaced residents during disaster recovery How after-action reviews can strengthen future emergency responses The central message: Emergency alerting isn't simply about sending a warning. It's about giving people the information they need to take lifesaving action. Every emergency message represents real people, real families, and real consequences. Emergency managers and alerting authorities must continually evaluate how warnings are created, delivered, and understood. Subscribe to The Alerting Authority for expert discussions on emergency management, public warning systems, disaster communication, IPAWS, WEA, EAS, and the future of public safety alerting. Because every second has a story.
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S1 · E52
October 29 · 56 min
Nextdoor Is Changing Emergency Alerts — Here's What Public Safety Agencies Need to Know
This episode is sponsored by Nextdoor What if your next emergency alert could reach thousands of residents who aren't following your agency on social media or signed up for traditional emergency notifications? In this episode of The Alerting Authority, hosts Dr. Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola welcome Joseph Porcelli of Nextdoor to explore how neighborhood-based communication is changing the way public safety agencies connect with their communities. With approximately one in three U.S. households on Nextdoor, according to figures discussed in the episode, the platform offers emergency managers an opportunity to reach an established local audience through geographically targeted messages. Joseph explains how Nextdoor's free public agency tools can support emergency alerts, disaster preparedness, community engagement, and even the search for missing or wandering individuals. In this episode, we explore: - How Nextdoor helps public safety agencies reach verified neighborhood residents - Why traditional social media platforms can leave gaps in emergency communication - How geographically targeted alerts reach specific communities, flood zones, and evacuation areas - How Nextdoor alerts use push notifications, email, and prominent newsfeed placement - How Nextdoor can supplement Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) - Integrations with emergency notification systems - Real-world examples involving disasters, severe weather, and missing individuals - How Nextdoor's AI-assisted Behavioral Communications and Alerting Prompt incorporates Dr. Sutton's warning researchNextdoor Is Changing Emergency Alerts — Here's What Public Safety Agencies Need to Know - Why building community trust before a disaster can make emergency communication more effective Apply for your free Nextdoor for Public Agencies page at Nextdoor.com/agency Try the Nextdoor Behavioral Commsa d Alerting prompt at Nextdoor.com/commsprompt
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S1 · E51
October 22 · 29 min
When Emergency Alerts Fail: What Seattle Is Changing
What happens when an emergency alert takes too long to reach the people who need it most? In this episode of The Alerting Authority, host Eddie Bertola joins us from Seattle, Washington, where he and Dr. Jeannette Sutton are working with city leadership to examine emergency alert policies, improve warning messages, and strengthen public safety communication. Following a tragic shooting at the Bite of Seattle, city officials have taken steps to evaluate how critical warnings are created, approved, and delivered. But improving emergency alerts isn't simply about buying better technology. It's about building policies, preparing personnel, and ensuring lifesaving information can reach the public when every second counts. In this episode, we explore: Seattle's efforts to improve emergency alerts and warnings Why emergency alert approval processes can create dangerous delays How leadership and agency coordination influence public safety Why active assailant warnings need clear, direct language How Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and IPAWS can help reach visitors and residents The importance of preapproved emergency messaging templates The risks of relying on a single person to authorize alerts Why emergency alert training must lead to real policy improvements How local governments can build more resilient warning programs Eddie also discusses Alert Seattle, the importance of reaching people who haven't signed up for local notification systems, and why honest, sometimes uncomfortable language can help people make lifesaving decisions. The biggest takeaway: Effective emergency warning systems depend on more than technology. They require strong leadership, clear communication, practical policies, and people who are prepared to act. Whether you're an emergency manager, first responder, public information officer, government leader, or someone interested in public safety, this conversation offers valuable lessons about improving emergency communication. Subscribe to The Alerting Authority for conversations about emergency alerts, warning science, disaster communication, IPAWS, Wireless Emergency Alerts, and the people working to make communities safer. Join the conversation: What's the biggest obstacle to sending timely emergency alerts in your community? #EmergencyManagement #EmergencyAlerts #PublicSafety #IPAWS #Seattle
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S1 · E50
October 15 · 57 min
The Cost of Getting Emergency Alerts Wrong — Lessons from Oregon
What happens when an emergency alert goes to the wrong people—or never reaches the people who need it most? On this episode of The Alerting Authority, host Eddie Bertola welcomes William (Will) Chapman, Oregon's Statewide Interoperability and Watch Center Manager, for an in-depth conversation about emergency communications, lessons learned from major disasters, and building a more reliable statewide alert and warning system. Drawing on his experience in 911 communications, law enforcement, fire, EMS, and emergency management, Will shares how Oregon has transformed its alerting capabilities following the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating 2020 Labor Day wildfires. The conversation explores: How disasters exposed critical gaps in Oregon's emergency alerting infrastructure The development of OR Alert, Oregon's statewide alert and warning program Why training, preparedness, and preapproved message templates matter How emergency managers should respond when alerts are issued incorrectly The importance of collaboration between state, local, and tribal governments How multilingual alerts and geographic targeting improve emergency communications The future of public warning as technology and communication platforms evolve One of the biggest takeaways? Effective emergency alerting isn't just about having the right technology. It's about building relationships, preparing before disaster strikes, and creating systems that empower people to act confidently when every second counts. Whether you're an emergency manager, public information officer, first responder, or alerting authority, this episode offers practical insights into making emergency communications more effective. Subscribe to The Alerting Authority for more conversations with the people shaping the future of public warning. #EmergencyManagement #EmergencyAlerts #PublicSafety #IPAWS #ORAlert #EmergencyCommunications
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S1 · E49
October 8 · 59 min
Why Some Emergency Alerts Fail — New Research Explains What’s Missing - Part II Discussion
What makes an emergency alert actually work — and what happens when critical information is left out? On this episode of The Alerting Authority, Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola welcome back Dr. Hugh Walpole for Part 2 of their conversation about risk perception, warning messages, and the science behind how people respond during emergencies. The conversation explores groundbreaking new research examining the individual pieces of an emergency warning message and what happens when one of those pieces is removed. The research tested six major warning-message components: source, hazard, hazard impact, location, time, and protective-action guidance. The biggest finding? While complete messages consistently performed best, three pieces of information were particularly important: • What the hazard is • How the hazard could affect people • What people should do to protect themselves The group also discusses risk perception, self-efficacy, response efficacy, confirmation bias, trusted sources, evacuation terminology, “milling,” wildfire warnings, and why incomplete messages can cause people to spend precious time searching for additional information instead of taking action. They also discuss the Warning Lexicon, a freely available research-based resource designed to help emergency managers and public information officers build clearer and more complete warning messages. For emergency managers, public information officers, meteorologists, alert originators, researchers, and anyone responsible for communicating risk, this episode offers practical lessons backed by research about how to design warnings that help people understand the danger and take protective action. Because when every second counts, the information inside an alert matters. Subscribe to The Alerting Authority for conversations about emergency alerts, warnings, risk communication, preparedness, and the people working to make communities safer. #EmergencyManagement #EmergencyAlerts #RiskCommunication #PublicSafety #WarningMessages #DisasterCommunication #EmergencyPreparedness
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S1 · E48
October 3 · 20 min
Your Emergency Alerts Aren’t Good Enough — Here’s Why - Reality Check
Emergency alerts are supposed to help people make fast, potentially life-saving decisions. But what happens when the alert itself is vague, incomplete, or confusing? In this Alerting Authority Reality Check, Eddie Bertola tackles one of the most basic — and most overlooked — parts of an effective emergency warning program: TEMPLATES. Too many agencies are still trying to write critical messages from scratch while an emergency is unfolding. Eddie explains why that needs to change and how well-designed, pre-approved templates can help alerting authorities communicate faster, more clearly, and more consistently when every second counts. In this episode: • Why emergency alert templates are NOT optional • What information belongs in a complete warning message • Why vague alerts like “danger in the area” aren't enough • WEA, EAS, SMS, email and other alert formats • Why local authorities can't simply rely on National Weather Service messaging • Preparing templates for your community's most likely hazards • Building evacuation, shelter-in-place, update and all-clear messages • Why templates should be reviewed and updated regularly • Preparing multilingual alerts BEFORE an emergency happens • How pre-approved templates can reduce delays during a crisis • Free resources available to help improve message design The goal isn't to create a template for every emergency imaginable. It's to prepare for the situations you can reasonably predict before the pressure is on. And emergency information shouldn't only work for people who speak English. Templates can allow agencies to prepare translations ahead of time so more members of the community can receive critical information in a form they understand. Your community deserves clear, actionable and complete emergency information. If you work in emergency management, public safety, alerts and warnings, risk communication, or crisis communications, ask yourself one question: When was the last time you actually reviewed your alert templates? Subscribe to The Alerting Authority for more conversations and Reality Checks about emergency alerts, warnings, public safety, risk communication, preparedness, and building stronger alerting programs. #EmergencyManagement #EmergencyAlerts #PublicSafety #CrisisCommunication #RiskCommunication #WEA #IPAWS #EmergencyPreparedness
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S1 · E47
October 1 · 1 hr 3 min
Why People Ignore Emergency Warnings — Even When They Understand Them
Why do people make the wrong decision during an emergency — even when they understand the warning? On this episode of The Alerting Authority, Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola are joined by disaster scholar Dr. DeeDee Bennett Gayle to explore groundbreaking research using virtual reality to study how older adults respond to emergency warnings in real time. Instead of simply asking people what they think they would do during a disaster, researchers placed participants inside virtual emergency scenarios involving a hurricane and a chemical spill — allowing them to observe how people actually seek information, interpret warnings, and decide whether to evacuate or shelter in place. The results raise some fascinating questions. Why do people seek multiple sources before taking action? Why might someone understand an emergency warning but still choose a different protective action? And what can emergency managers do to make alerts and warnings more effective? The conversation explores wireless emergency alerts, the Emergency Alert System, NOAA Weather Radio, television, social media, warning comprehension, risk perception, protective action decision-making, older adults, and the future of virtual reality in emergency preparedness. Because sending the warning is only the beginning. What matters next is whether people know what to do — and actually do it. Subscribe to The Alerting Authority for more conversations about emergency alerts, warnings, risk communication, preparedness, and the people working to make communities safer. #EmergencyManagement #EmergencyAlerts #PublicSafety #DisasterPreparedness #RiskCommunication
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S1 · E46
September 24 · 1 hr 3 min
Why We Keep Making the Same Mistakes After Weather Disasters
What happens after a devastating weather disaster — and who makes sure we actually learn from it? On this episode of The Alerting Authority, Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola are joined by Jennifer Sprague Hilderbrand and Doug Hilderbrand, co-founders of the American Weather Enterprise Association (AWEA), for a conversation about the future of weather safety, emergency communication, and national policy. They discuss the idea behind a National Weather Safety Board, the importance of studying major disasters to identify what worked and what failed, the future of America's weather infrastructure, and why sustained advocacy matters for emergency managers, meteorologists, researchers, and communities. The conversation also explores the Congressional Weather Enterprise Caucus, aging weather radar infrastructure, alerts and warnings, social science, and the challenge of turning lessons learned after disasters into meaningful improvements before the next emergency. Because when every second counts, learning from the last disaster could help us prepare for the next one. Subscribe to The Alerting Authority for more conversations about emergency alerts, warnings, risk communication, preparedness, and the people working to make communities safer. #EmergencyManagement #Weather #EmergencyAlerts #SevereWeather #PublicSafety
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S1 · E45
September 23 · 41 min
We’re Using AMBER Alerts WRONG: The Alerting Authority Reality Check
In this Alerting Authority Reality Check, Eddie Bertola tackles a controversial question: Should AMBER Alerts really be sent statewide? Wireless Emergency Alerts were designed with geotargeting capabilities, yet many jurisdictions continue sending AMBER Alerts across an entire state—even when an abduction occurs near a state border or available information points toward a much smaller geographic area. Eddie examines examples from Oregon, Washington, Texas and Florida and explains why he believes this approach needs to change. The concern isn't whether every effort should be made to recover an abducted child. It's whether sending alerts to people hundreds of miles away is actually the most effective use of the technology—and whether over-alerting could eventually cause more people to disable AMBER Alerts entirely. Eddie also identifies three factors he believes contribute to statewide alerting: outdated policies, outdated technology and resistance to change. Is it time to rethink statewide AMBER Alerts? Join the conversation and tell us what you think.
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S1 · E44
September 17 · 52 min
How Do We Know If an Emergency Alert Actually Works? | The Science of Warning Messages
How do we actually know whether an emergency alert works? In Part 1 of this special two-part episode of The Alerting Authority, Dr. Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola are joined by research scientist Dr. Hugh Walpole for a deep dive into the science behind emergency warning research. Hugh breaks down qualitative vs. quantitative research, experiments, representative sampling, risk perception, and how researchers determine whether changes to an emergency message actually make a difference. But the conversation leads to an even bigger question: Should the success of an emergency alert really be measured by whether people comply? The answer is more complicated than it sounds. The group explores why researchers focus on understanding, belief, personalization, and decision-making—and why getting people to make themselves safe may be a much better goal than simply getting them to “do what they're told.” In this episode: • Qualitative vs. quantitative emergency communication research • How emergency alert experiments actually work • Why representative samples matter • The dangers of relying on anecdotal feedback • The Warning Response Model • What motivates people to take protective action • Why “compliance” can be a misleading metric • How real-world context changes emergency behavior • The ethics of emergency communication research • How better research can lead to better warning messages This is Part 1 of our conversation with Dr. Hugh Walpole. Part 2 will dive into the latest research from Dr. Sutton's lab and content mapping for emergency messages. Subscribe to The Alerting Authority for conversations about emergency alerts, warnings, risk communication, research, policy, and the people working to make communities safer. The Alerting Authority — Every Second Has a Story.
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S1 · E43
September 10 · 47 min
Earthquake Warning: The Seconds That Could Save Your Life
Earthquakes can strike without warning—but new technology can give you precious seconds to react. In this episode archived of The Alerting Authority, Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola break down USGS ShakeAlert, earthquake early warnings, Wireless Emergency Alerts, and the technology that can warn people before strong shaking arrives. They also examine false earthquake alerts and why fast follow-up communication is critical for maintaining public trust. The episode also revisits the Hawaii false missile alert and research showing why people need corrective information through the same channels that delivered the original warning.
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S1 · E42
September 3 · 1 hr 8 min
AI Is Changing Emergency Alerts — Are We Ready? | Dr. Jessica Jensen
Artificial intelligence is already changing emergency management — but are we ready to trust it with alerts and warnings? On this episode of The Alerting Authority, Dr. Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola welcome Dr. Jessica Jensen, Senior Policy Researcher at RAND and a national expert in emergency management policy, practice, and research. Dr. Jensen joins the podcast to discuss the newly released AIDE report — AI for Disasters and Emergencies — and what its findings mean for emergency managers, public warning professionals, and organizations exploring the use of artificial intelligence during disasters. The conversation explores where AI can help, where significant questions remain, and why emergency management cannot simply adopt AI tools without understanding how they perform against established research and warning-message standards. One of the biggest takeaways: AI should support emergency management professionals — not replace their expertise. Jeannette and Eddie also discuss the importance of benchmarking AI-generated alerts and warnings, keeping a human in the loop, and ensuring that messages continue to follow evidence-based principles for effective risk and crisis communication. In this episode: • What the AIDE (AI for Disasters and Emergencies) report found • How AI could change emergency management • Using AI to write emergency alerts and warnings • Why benchmarking AI systems matters • The importance of the human in the loop • Risks of relying too heavily on AI-generated messaging • The need for standards and independent evaluation of AI tools • What emergency managers should understand before adopting AI • Where additional research is still needed The Alerting Authority helps organizations strengthen their warning and emergency communication programs through training, message audits, policy assistance, message design, exercises, and real-world guidance. Because “we’ll figure it out when something happens” is not an emergency communication strategy. Subscribe to The Alerting Authority for conversations with researchers, emergency managers, warning experts, and practitioners working to make alerts and warnings more effective. #EmergencyManagement #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #EmergencyAlerts #PublicWarning #CrisisCommunication #DisasterResponse #RiskCommunication #EmergencyCommunications #AIDE
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S1 · E41
August 27 · 1 hr 5 min
Wildfire Evacuations: Why Your Emergency Plan Might FAIL
Wildfire evacuations can turn chaotic in minutes. So how do emergency managers know when to issue an evacuation order, who should leave first, and whether the roads can actually handle everyone trying to escape? In this episode of The Alerting Authority, Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola are joined by Tom Cova, professor at the University of Utah and expert in wildfire evacuation analysis, emergency management, and geographic information science. Tom breaks down the science behind evacuation modeling and explains why real-world human behavior can completely change an evacuation timeline. The conversation explores traffic bottlenecks, evacuation zones, phased evacuations, warning messages, vulnerable populations, wildfire behavior, and how emergency managers can build more realistic evacuation plans. One of the biggest takeaways: evacuating everyone simultaneously isn't always the safest strategy. Research and real-world experience show that phased evacuations can reduce risk by allowing those closest to the danger to leave before roads become gridlocked. The discussion also examines the future of emergency evacuation technology—including live evacuation information, smarter routing, mobile alerts, AI-assisted decision support, and systems that could help emergency managers determine when it's time to issue a warning. Topics include: wildfire evacuation modeling, evacuation alerts and warnings, traffic and evacuation routes, phased evacuations, evacuation zones, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), emergency management planning, vulnerable populations, human behavior during disasters, AI in emergency management, and wildfire preparedness. Subscribe to The Alerting Authority for conversations about emergency alerts, warnings, crisis communication, IPAWS, WEA, and the future of public safety messaging.
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S1 · E40
August 20 · 48 min
CAPCOG 2026 Recap: The Biggest Alerting & Warning Lessons from Texas
What happens when emergency managers, public safety leaders, universities, public health officials, law enforcement, and alerting authorities from across Texas come together for two days of intensive training? In this episode of The Alerting Authority, Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola break down their experience at CAPCOG 2026, where they trained professionals from across Texas on emergency communications, alerting policies, message design, public warning research, and real-world emergency scenarios. Topics include: ✅ Why "we'll figure it out when something happens" is not an emergency communication strategy ✅ Building alerting policies that work under pressure ✅ The importance of emergency authorization and reducing notification delays ✅ Cross-jurisdictional coordination and mutual aid agreements ✅ Message design based on scientific research ✅ The Warning Lexicon, Post-Alert Lexicon, and Message Design Dashboard ✅ Active shooter communication strategies ✅ Writing effective all-clear messages ✅ Supporting access and functional needs populations ✅ Practical exercises that improved confidence and reduced fear among alerting professionals The discussion highlights how training, preparation, and evidence-based practices help communities communicate more effectively during emergencies. Participants worked through real-world scenarios ranging from severe weather to active threats while learning how to craft clear, actionable warning messages. Whether you're an emergency manager, public safety professional, dispatcher, university official, or anyone responsible for crisis communications, this episode offers valuable lessons that can improve your alerting program. To learn more about what was discussed and what you can do to better understand alerting checkout TheWarnRoom.com and TheAlertingAuthority.com #AlertingAuthority #EmergencyManagement #PublicSafety #EmergencyAlerts #CAPCOG #WirelessEmergencyAlerts #EmergencyCommunications #CrisisCommunication #AlertWarning #EmergencyPreparedness
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S1 · E39
August 13 · 1 hr 8 min
Crisis Communication, AI, and Public Trust: What Alerting Authorities Can Learn from Dr. Tim Coombs
What happens when emergency alerts fail, misinformation spreads, or organizations lose public trust during a crisis? In this episode of The Alerting Authority, Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola sit down with Dr. W. Timothy Coombs, one of the most cited crisis communication scholars in the world and creator of the Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT). The conversation explores the relationship between crisis communication, disasters, alerts, warnings, and organizational accountability. Dr. Coombs explains how effective communication brings crisis management plans to life and why instructing and adjusting information are critical to protecting the public. Using real-world examples including the Hawaii false missile alert, the Paradise Fire, and the Los Angeles wildfire alert failures, the discussion examines what organizations can learn when communication systems break down. The episode also tackles one of the biggest emerging challenges in emergency management: artificial intelligence. Dr. Coombs shares his perspective on AI-generated messaging, the risks of overreliance on automation, the importance of maintaining communication skills, and why meaningful human involvement remains essential in crisis communication. Topics include: Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) Accountability and public trust during crises Lessons from the Hawaii false missile alert Paradise Fire communication challenges Los Angeles wildfire alert failures Over-alerting and public response Crisis communication training and preparedness AI in emergency messaging and public warning Human-in-the-loop communication systems Research, peer review, and the future of crisis communication Whether you're an emergency manager, public information officer, alerting practitioner, researcher, or communicator, this episode offers valuable insights into how organizations can communicate more effectively when the stakes are highest.
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S1 · E38
August 6 · 56 min
Wireless Emergency Alerts Explained with Rob Dale
What emergency managers see when they send an alert isn't always what the public receives. In this episode of Alerting Authority, Jeannette Sutton, Eddie Bertola, and special guest Rob Dale explore how Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) appear on different devices and why those differences matter. The discussion dives into PBS Warn, message design, alert effectiveness, and common mistakes emergency managers make when creating warning messages. Rob shares insights from reviewing thousands of alerts across the country, highlighting both best practices and recurring issues that can impact public understanding and response. The conversation also examines how WEA has evolved from 90-character messages to today's richer capabilities, including longer messages, links, and future enhancements. Emergency managers, public information officers, and alerting professionals will gain practical guidance for improving warning messages and better reaching their communities. Topics Covered: Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) PBS Warn Emergency alert message design Public warning best practices Alerting and warning research Emergency management communications Mobile alert differences between Apple and Android Public safety messaging IPAWS and WEA evolution Crisis communication Rob Dale discusses how PBS Warn allows alerting professionals to review and evaluate emergency alerts issued across the country, helping identify strengths and weaknesses in warning messages. The episode also explores how WEA has evolved from the original 90-character limitation to 360-character alerts with expanded capabilities, improving opportunities for effective public warning. This episode is sponsored by HQE Systems. Visit them at HQEsystems.com
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S1 · E37
July 30 · 59 min
AI Taking Over? How AI is Changing the World of Alerting
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing the way emergency managers, public information officers, and alerting authorities communicate with the public. But should we trust AI with emergency alerts and crisis communication? In this special panel discussion, Jeannette Sutton, Eddie Bertola, and Dan Stoneking explore the growing role of AI in emergency management, public warning systems, and crisis communications. Drawing from research, field experience, and communications expertise, they discuss the opportunities, risks, and realities of integrating AI into emergency alerting. Topics include: - Generative AI vs. traditional AI tools - How emergency managers are already using AI - AI-generated emergency alerts and warning messages - Trust, credibility, and human oversight - The future of public information officers - Message design, warning science, and alert effectiveness - Why AI should be viewed as a tool—not a replacement Whether you're an emergency manager, PIO, researcher, dispatcher, or public safety professional, this conversation offers valuable insight into one of the biggest technological shifts facing the alerting community. #EmergencyManagement #AI #CrisisCommunication #PublicSafety #EmergencyAlerts #IPAWS #AlertingAuthority #ArtificialIntelligence #PIO #EmergencyCommunications
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S1 · E36
July 23 · 1 hr 4 min
How Better Translations Could Save Lives During Disasters
In this episode of The Alerting Authority, Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola sit down with Dr. Joseph Trujillo-Falcón, a leading researcher in multilingual risk communication and emergency alerts. Joseph shares his journey from immigrating to the United States from Peru to becoming one of the nation's foremost experts on language equity in weather warnings. The discussion explores how emergency messages are translated, why certain warning terms can create confusion, and how artificial intelligence is helping agencies like NOAA and the National Weather Service improve multilingual communication. The conversation covers: • The challenges of translating tornado warnings and weather alerts • Why direct translations often fail during emergencies • AI-powered weather warning translation systems • Language equity in public safety communication • Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and multilingual messaging • How local agencies can better reach diverse communities • The future of emergency communication for the 2028 Olympics and beyond Whether you're an emergency manager, public safety professional, meteorologist, researcher, or simply interested in how technology can help save lives, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of alerting and warning systems. Guest: Dr. Joseph Trujillo-Falcón Topics: AI Translation, NOAA, National Weather Service, Emergency Alerts, Risk Communication, Public Safety, Weather Warnings, Language Equity, Wireless Emergency Alerts, Emergency Management. This episode is sponsored by HQE Systems. #EmergencyManagement #PublicSafety #RiskCommunication #AITranslation #LanguageAccess
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S1 · E35
July 16 · 1 hr 1 min
From Disney to Disaster Response | The Story of Eddie Bertola
Who is Eddie Bertola? In this special episode of The Alerting Authority Podcast, Dr. Jeannette Sutton turns the tables and interviews co-host Eddie Bertola, one of the nation's leading experts on emergency alerts, AMBER Alerts, crisis communication, and public warning systems. Discover the personal story behind the public safety leader as Eddie shares how growing up in California led him into law enforcement, his career with the California Highway Patrol, and how he helped modernize emergency alerting technology across the United States. Along the way, you'll also learn why he's passionate about Disney, why Mexican Coca-Cola is his favorite drink, how six goats became part of his life, and the lessons he learned as a hostage negotiator that anyone can use in everyday communication. In this episode you'll discover: - Eddie Bertola's journey into law enforcement - How California's AMBER Alert program evolved - The future of emergency alerts and public warning systems - Behind-the-scenes stories from hostage negotiations - California Highway Patrol career experiences - How Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) have changed lives - The importance of policy, preparedness, and alerting standards - Disney, Coca-Cola, goats, family, and life outside emergency management Whether you're an emergency manager, dispatcher, first responder, public information officer, emergency communications professional, or simply interested in public safety, this episode offers valuable insight into one of the industry's most recognized voices. Subscribe for more conversations about: -Emergency Management -Public Safety -AMBER Alerts -IPAWS -Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) -Crisis Communication -Disaster Preparedness -Warning Science -Public Information -Emergency Alert Systems 🎙️ Every Second Has a Story. #EmergencyManagement #AmberAlert #PublicSafety #IPAWS #WirelessEmergencyAlerts #CrisisCommunication #EmergencyAlerts #LawEnforcement #CaliforniaHighwayPatrol #HostageNegotiation #AlertingAuthority
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S1 · E35
July 10 · 1 hr 3 min
Right Message, Right Time: Martin Ritchey on Emergency Alerts, Texas Floods, IPAWS and Everbridge
How do emergency managers make sure the right people get the right message at the right time? In this episode of The Alerting Authority, Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola sit down with Martin Ritchey, Director of Homeland Security at the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG), to discuss emergency notification systems, IPAWS, Everbridge, warning fatigue, emergency preparedness, flash flood response, and lessons learned from major disasters across Texas. Martin shares how CAPCOG built one of the most successful regional alerting programs in the country through WarnCentralTexas.org, achieving exceptional community participation and improving emergency communication capabilities across a 10-county region. The conversation explores the importance of emergency alerts, public warning systems, crisis communication, emergency management training, disaster response, resilience planning, and how technology can help save lives during critical incidents. From devastating Texas floods and Winter Storm Uri to aviation disasters and emergency notification best practices, this episode offers valuable insights for emergency managers, public safety officials, alerting authorities, and anyone interested in disaster preparedness and community resilience. This episode of The Alerting Authority is proudly sponsored by Everbridge. When emergencies happen, every second matters. Everbridge helps organizations ensure the right people receive the right information at the right time. Trusted by more than 6,500 organizations worldwide, Everbridge's High Velocity Critical Event Management (CEM) platform combines advanced technology and purpose-built AI to help organizations anticipate risks, communicate during crises, and recover faster from critical events. Whether facing severe weather, operational disruptions, cybersecurity incidents, or large-scale emergencies, Everbridge provides leaders with the tools and confidence needed to make informed decisions when it matters most. From government agencies and public safety organizations to businesses and healthcare systems, Everbridge helps protect people, assets, and operations through industry-leading emergency communication and resilience solutions. Learn how Everbridge is helping organizations build safer, more resilient communities by delivering the right message at the right time at www.everbridge.com
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