The Alerting Authority

Eddie Bertola and Jeannette Sutton
  • 5.0 (4)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

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.

  1. APR 30

    Why Emergency Alerts Fail: Craig Fugate on Public Warning Mistakes - Alerting Authority Rewind

    This episode is a rewind from our very first premiere of The Alerting Authority. In this debut conversation, hosts Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola sit down with former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate for a candid, no-nonsense look at the real challenges facing emergency alerting in the United States. Fugate explains why most alerting failures aren’t caused by technology—but by people. He emphasizes the need for emergency managers to be trained, confident, and ready to issue immediate warnings when every second counts. The discussion explores the critical differences between notifications, alerts, and true warnings, the dangers of relying too heavily on opt-in systems, and why consistent training and message practice are essential to saving lives. Whether you’re an emergency manager, public safety leader, alert originator, or crisis communication professional, this episode delivers practical insights to help build a more effective, resilient public warning system.

    37 min

  2. APR 23

    Inside New York’s Missing Persons Alert Overhaul with Tim Williams

    How do you write a missing persons alert that actually gets the public to respond? In this episode of The Alerting Authority, Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola sit down with Tim Williams, Program Manager of the New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse, to explore how New York is rethinking missing persons messaging, public alerting, and effective communication. This conversation goes deep into the science behind alert wording, why plain language matters, and how thoughtful messaging can increase public engagement, reduce confusion, and improve outcomes in missing and endangered person cases. Topics include:  How New York reduced alert activation time from hours to minutes  Why “boilerplate” alert messages often fall short  The shift from template-based alerts to skill-based message design  The research behind effective missing persons messaging  Why over-alerting and too many alert names can create confusion  Removing jargon and using plain language the public understands  How New York approaches privacy, dignity, and behavioral descriptions in alerts  Whether details like eye color, vehicle models, and alert labels actually matter  Stakeholder collaboration with broadcasters, emergency managers, DOT, and law enforcement  Public trust, community empowerment, and the future of missing persons alerting Tim also shares how the New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse is setting a national example through policy innovation, public awareness efforts, and evidence-based messaging practices. If you work in emergency management, public warning, law enforcement, missing persons investigations, or crisis communication, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately. Subscribe for more conversations on alerting, warning, emergency communication, and public safety. #MissingPersons #EmergencyAlerting #PublicWarning #CrisisCommunication #WirelessEmergencyAlerts

    1h 3m

  3. APR 16

    Animals and Emergencies: Real-Life Chaos, Companion Pets, and Disaster Preparedness

    What happens when emergencies involve your pets or animals? In this lively and unfiltered episode of The Alerting Authority, hosts Eddie Bertola and Jeannette Sutton bring in their pets—complete with roaming goats, curious cats, and plenty of unexpected moments—to explore the critical role animals play in disasters. Joined by Dr. Sarah DeYoung, an expert in disaster research and companion animals, the conversation dives into how pets, livestock, and even exotic animals impact evacuation decisions, emergency messaging, and public safety outcomes. From goats knocking over cameras to cats hiding during evacuations, this episode blends humor with powerful insights on preparedness, warning systems, and real-world challenges. You’ll learn:  How animals influence human decision-making during emergencies  Why early warnings are essential for households with pets and livestock  The hidden risks of evacuating (or not evacuating) with animals  Practical preparedness tips for pet owners and emergency managers  The emotional and psychological impact of losing animals in disasters  How organizations and policies are evolving to support animal safety Plus, hear firsthand stories from the field—including hurricane evacuations, wildfire impacts, and the chaos of managing animals in real-time. 🎙️ Sponsored by HQE Systems – providing integrated alerting and notification solutions to help emergency managers simplify complex communication during crises. Whether you're an emergency manager, pet owner, or just love animals, this episode offers valuable insights into making communities safer—for both people and the animals they care about.

    58 min

  4. APR 9

    Missing Persons Alerts Explained: AMBER, Ashanti & WEA—What Works, What Fails, and What Saves Lives | Sponsored by Everbridge

    In this episode of The Alerting Authority, hosts Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola sit down with veteran alerting leader Carri Gordon to break down the evolution, effectiveness, and future of missing persons alerts. With nearly 35 years of experience in emergency communications and public safety, Carri shares her journey from early dispatch operations—long before modern alerting systems—to leading statewide alert programs and now serving as a national subject matter expert on the Ashanti Alert initiative. This episode dives deep into:  How AMBER Alerts evolved from manual processes to real-time notifications  The critical role of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) in saving lives  Why actionable information matters more than awareness alone  The truth about alert criteria, delays, and decision-making How the Ashanti Alert Act is transforming missing adult alerting nationwide  Lessons learned from real cases—both successful recoveries and tragic outcomes  Why the public should never disable emergency alerts on their phonesYou’ll also hear firsthand stories of alerts leading to recoveries within minutes—and the hard lessons that reshaped how alerting authorities operate today. Whether you’re in emergency management, law enforcement, public safety communications, or simply want to understand how these systems protect communities, this episode provides expert insight into the science, strategy, and human impact behind every alert. 🎙️ Sponsored by Everbridge This episode is proudly sponsored by Everbridge, a global leader in critical event management (CEM). Trusted by over 6,500 organizations worldwide, Everbridge helps governments and enterprises anticipate, respond to, and recover from critical events using powerful, AI-driven alerting and resilience solutions.

    58 min

  5. APR 2

    Do Alerts Really Work? RAND Study Part II | Who Gets Missed, Opt-Outs, & Alert Fatigue Explained

    In Part II of our deep dive into the groundbreaking RAND national alerting study, we go beyond the headline stat that 91% of Americans received the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) and uncover the real story: who didn’t—and why it matters. Host Jeannette Sutton is joined again by RAND researchers Rachel Steratore and Andy Parker to explore critical gaps in emergency alert systems, including:  Why rural communities are less likely to receive alerts  How age, device type, and mobile carriers impact delivery  The surprising truth about opt-out behavior (especially among younger and lower-income users)  The role of awareness, trust, and alert fatigue in public response  How disability, language, and accessibility factor into alert effectiveness  Why “sending the alert” doesn’t guarantee people actually receive—or act on—it This episode also tackles one of the biggest unanswered questions in emergency communication: Do alerts actually lead to action? You’ll hear insights on:  The difference between receiving, understanding, and acting on alerts  How risk perception (fear vs. familiarity) shapes behavior  Why education and public awareness are major missing pieces  The future of alerting across devices (phones, watches, smart tech, and more)  What the next generation of research must focus on If you’re an emergency manager, public safety professional, researcher, or just someone curious about how alerts work during real crises—this episode is essential listening. 👉 Watch Part I first for the full context of the RAND study 👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share to help improve public safety awareness

    53 min

  6. MAR 26

    When the Mountain Burned: Inside the Ruidoso Wildfires and the Alert That Saved a Town

    In this gripping episode of The Alerting Authority, hosts Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola sit down with Eric Queller, Emergency Manager for the mountain community of Ruidoso, to unpack one of the most intense wildfire response operations in recent memory. What began as a routine fire-weather day on June 17, 2024, quickly escalated into a fast-moving disaster as the South Fork and Salt Fires ignited within the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), threatening thousands of residents and tens of thousands of seasonal visitors. Within hours, a quiet mountain town of 7,000 surged into crisis mode—with a population nearing 90,000 during peak tourist season. Eric provides a vivid, moment-by-moment account of the day everything changed: from the first call reporting smoke in Upper Canyon, to hearing elite firefighting crews forced to retreat due to extreme fire behavior, to the realization that this was no ordinary incident—but a worst-case scenario unfolding in real time. Listeners are taken inside the Emergency Operations Center as it rapidly escalates from routine monitoring to full Level 1 activation. Eric recounts the weight of critical decisions, including issuing a rare and urgent “GO NOW” evacuation alert that ultimately led to the full evacuation of Ruidoso—something the town had never practiced at scale. This episode dives deep into the realities of modern emergency management, including: -The challenges of protecting a high-risk Wildland-Urban Interface community -Managing a dynamic population with tens of thousands of tourists unfamiliar with local risks -The strengths and limitations of the Ready, Set, Go framework—and why it may fall short in real-world scenarios -How clear, plain-language alerts can cut through confusion and save lives The importance of multi-channel alerting systems, including IPAWS, Wireless  -Emergency Alerts, NOAA Weather Radio, AM/FM broadcasting, and even door-to-door notifications -The role of local infrastructure—like Ruidoso’s own government-run radio station—in delivering trusted, continuous communication during crisis Eric also shares the emotional and operational intensity of working nearly four straight days without rest, coordinating with state officials, and making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information—all while the fire spread rapidly across rugged terrain. Beyond the fire itself, the conversation foreshadows the cascading disasters that often follow wildfires, including flash flooding risks in burn-scarred landscapes—highlighting why emergency management doesn’t end when the flames go out. This episode is both a masterclass in crisis communication and a sobering reminder of how quickly disasters can escalate—and how critical timely, decisive alerts are in protecting lives.

    58 min

  7. MAR 19

    Training 190 Alert Senders, Preventing WEA Mistakes & Reaching Every Community: Inside San Diego’s Alerting System

    In this episode of The Alerting Authority, hosts Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola sit down with Dan Vasquez, former Alert & Warning Coordinator for the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services, to break down how one region built one of the most coordinated emergency alerting systems in the United States. From wildfires and hurricanes to multilingual communication and accessibility, Dan shares the real story behind: Training 190+ alert originators across 18 cities and a countyPreventing mistakes like the infamous Hawaii false missile alertWriting clear alerts using Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)Coordinating alerts across multiple jurisdictionsReaching multilingual communities with trusted messengersBuilding the Partner Relay network for accessible crisis communicationCreating policies and agreements that took 20 months to finalizeYou’ll also hear how San Diego’s Unified Disaster Council model allows multiple jurisdictions to collaborate on warning systems, funding, and training, something many emergency management agencies are trying to replicate. Plus, Dan explains the work of the Language Accessibility Alert & Warning Workgroup, a national initiative focused on making emergency alerts accessible to everyone, regardless of language, disability, or technology. If you work in emergency management, public safety, crisis communication, or government technology, this episode is packed with real-world lessons on how to deliver alerts that are accurate, timely, and accessible.

    57 min

  8. MAR 12

    Frozen Iguanas, Winter Storm Alerts, WEA Messaging & Emergency Communication Best Practices

    In this episode of the Alerting Authority Podcast, Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola discuss winter storm alerts, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), and real-world emergency communication examples from across the United States. From the 2022 Buffalo blizzard to recent extreme cold warnings, the hosts analyze how local emergency managers used alert origination software, warning templates, and public safety messaging to keep communities informed. The episode highlights best practices for emergency alerts, the importance of layered communication, and how agencies can improve preparedness through message templates, training, and planning. Learn how alerting authorities can better serve vulnerable populations, provide shelter information, and use WEA, social media, and local partnerships to deliver life-saving information. Sponsored by HQE Systems — providing next-generation outdoor warning sirens, indoor notification systems, and alert origination software controlled from one platform. Subscribe for more emergency management, public warning, and disaster communication insights.

    44 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Eddie Bertola and Jeannette Sutton
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Alerting Authority
  • Show Website
    The Alerting Authority

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