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. 1D AGO

    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

  2. MAR 5

    Inside the FEMA National Alert: Deanne Criswell on Sending the U.S. Emergency Alert

    Former FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell joins The Alerting Authority, sponsored by HQE Systems, to discuss what it was really like to send the nationwide IPAWS emergency alert to every phone in the United States. In this episode, Criswell shares behind-the-scenes insights from the 2023 national emergency alert test, explains how FEMA manages the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS), and discusses the growing challenges of misinformation, disinformation, and foreign influence during disasters. Hosts Eddie Bertola and Dr. Jeannette Sutton explore how emergency managers can build trusted community networks, improve Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) messaging, and ensure equitable alerting for diverse populations. Criswell also reflects on her time leading FEMA, responding to major disasters, and why people-first emergency management and equity are critical to disaster preparedness and recovery. Topics covered include: - Sending the national emergency alert to every U.S. phone - How IPAWS and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) work - Misinformation and foreign influence during disasters - Building trusted communication networks in communities - Equity in emergency management and disaster recovery - Lessons for local alerting authorities and emergency managers - The future of public alerting and warning systems If you work in emergency management, public safety, disaster communications, or crisis response, this episode provides critical insights into the future of public warning systems and disaster communication. This episode is sponsored by HQEsystems.com

    46 min

  3. FEB 26

    Engagement Before Emergency: Building Buy-In Before Disaster Strikes

    This episode of The Alerting Authority features emergency manager Ashley Morris, whose journey from childhood storm enthusiast in New Mexico to community-focused alerting leader in Central Texas blends meteorology, public engagement, and hands-on system building. Ashley shares how her early dream of working for the National Weather Service evolved into a career in emergency management—where science, social media strategy, and relationship-building intersect. From launching alerting programs from scratch to developing policy across agencies, she discusses what it takes to build confidence, competence, and collaboration around tools like FEMA’s IPAWS. The conversation explores: Growing social media presence from zero followers in a rural, tourism-driven Texas countyPartnering with chambers of commerce, small businesses, and community leaders to amplify messagingLessons learned from larger jurisdictions like Fairfax County and applying them in smaller communitiesThe importance of policy, redundancy, and hands-on training in alerting systemsWhy visibility, trust, and relationships matter just as much as technologyThe future of alerting—from AI and the Internet of Things to flood warning innovations in TexasAshley emphasizes a powerful truth: if emergency management isn’t visible, it doesn’t exist. This episode is packed with practical insights for alerting authorities, PIOs, and emergency managers looking to strengthen trust, improve alerting confidence, and build resilient communities before the next disaster strikes. This episode of The Alerting Authority is brought to by HQE Systems.

    46 min

  4. FEB 19

    Inclusive Emergency Alerting & Access Needs in Disasters with Vance Taylor | Cal OES & Whole Community Leadership

    How can emergency alerts truly reach everyone, especially people with disabilities and access/ functional needs? In this powerful episode, we welcome Vance Taylor, Chief of the Office of Access and Functional Needs at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). Vance shares his personal journey, leadership philosophy, and groundbreaking work to transform inclusive emergency management across California and the nation. We explore: Why timing matters more than perfectly worded alertsThe dangers of disaster registries — and what works betterEnhanced alerting systems and early notification modelsLessons from Winter Storm Uri and disability-focused disaster researchHow alerting authorities can improve messaging todayPlanning with communities, not for themVance also discusses cultural change in emergency management, accessible technology innovation, and the responsibility of alerting authorities to reduce human suffering and loss of life. Whether you're an emergency manager, alerting authority, public safety leader, researcher, or disability advocate, this episode delivers actionable insights on whole community disaster preparedness. This episode is proudly sponsored by HQE Systems: supporting data-driven solutions.

    57 min

  5. FEB 12

    Are We Over-Alerting? Arkansas Winter Storm WEA Strategy & Building Community Trust

    When severe winter weather hit Arkansas, only one county issued multiple Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs). Was it over-alerting or a powerful example of proactive leadership? In this episode of The Alerting Authority, Dr. Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola break down a real-world case study from Calhoun County, Arkansas, where Judge Floyd Nutt sent a series of WEA messages ahead of and during a winter storm. From freezing rain and icy roads to water shortages and access to medical supplies, the messages created a narrative of preparedness, impact communication, and community reassurance. The hosts explore: When should you send a Wireless Emergency Alert for winter weather?What constitutes over-alerting vs. effective risk communication?How do WEAs impact vulnerable populations, including those with access and functional needs?Lessons from Winter Storms and the importance of inclusive alertingMessage timing, structure (90 vs. 360 characters), and trust-building strategiesUsing IPAWS effectively in rural vs. urban communitiesThis episode is a must-listen for emergency managers, public safety officials, alert originators, and risk communication professionals looking to improve warning strategy and community engagement. Subscribe, follow, and join the conversation as we work to make alerting better, and communities safer. This episode is sponsored by HQEsystems.com.  Also be sure to check out Disabled Power by Angela Frederick at this link: https://nyupress.org/9781479828142/disabled-power/

    44 min

  6. FEB 5

    Emergency Alerting at the World’s Busiest Airport: How Atlanta Airport Manages Crisis Communication at Scale

    In this episode of The Alerting Authority, emergency management and communications leaders from Atlanta International Airport (ATL) take listeners inside the complex world of alerting, warnings, and crisis communication at the busiest airport on the planet. Featuring insights from ATL Emergency Management, Integrated Operations Center leadership, and Airport Communications and Media Affairs, this conversation explores how large-scale airports function like cities—coordinating across airlines, TSA, law enforcement, fire, EMS, federal partners, and more than 63,000 employees to deliver clear, timely, and accessible messages during routine operations and major emergencies. The panel discusses real-world challenges such as mass notification strategy, 911 operations within airport property, interagency coordination, wireless emergency alerts, overhead paging systems, and the risks of alert “bleed-over” into surrounding jurisdictions. Listeners will learn how ATL balances proactive communication with operational precision, including the philosophy of “maximum disclosure with minimum delay.” This episode also dives into language access and accessibility, including live translation services for limited English proficiency travelers, Title VI compliance, and the realities of communicating with a highly stressed, diverse, and constantly moving population. From winter weather events and accidental discharges to after-action reviews and daily coordination calls, the discussion highlights lessons learned, best practices, and emerging innovations such as integrated operations centers, dashboards, AI, and redundant communications systems. Whether you work in aviation, emergency management, public safety, or public information, this episode offers practical takeaways on collaboration, training, message design, and how to build resilient alerting systems that work under pressure at any scale. This episode is sponsored by HQE Systems. Check them out at www.HQEsystems.com Also check the Atlanta Airport official website at ATL.com

    50 min

  7. JAN 29

    Inside the Tsunami Warning System: What Really Happened During the 2024 West Coast Alert—and How Emergency Alerts Must Evolve

    In December 2024, millions of people across California, Oregon, and the San Francisco Bay Area received a sudden Wireless Emergency Alert warning of a possible tsunami—an alert that stopped daily life in its tracks and raised urgent questions about how tsunami warnings are issued, who receives them, and what the public is actually expected to do. In this in-depth episode, Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola sit down with Dave Snider of the National Tsunami Warning Center to unpack exactly what happened during that historic alert—and what it revealed about the strengths, limitations, and future of tsunami warning and public alerting systems in the United States. Dave walks listeners through the real decision-making process behind tsunami warnings, explaining why these alerts are issued out of an abundance of caution, how earthquake magnitude thresholds are evaluated, and why tsunamis fundamentally differ from weather events that can be predicted days in advance. The conversation explores the critical distinction between tsunami warnings, advisories, and watches, and why terminology that works for hurricanes or tornadoes can create confusion when applied to earthquakes and ocean hazards. The episode also dives deep into the technology behind public alerts, including IPAWS, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), Emergency Alert System (EAS), Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs), and county-level opt-in alerting systems. Dave explains why entire counties—sometimes stretching far inland—receive tsunami warnings, how overlapping geographic boundaries like forecast zones and FIPS codes contribute to over-alerting, and why alert fatigue is a growing concern for emergency communications. A major focus of the discussion is partnership: the indispensable role of state, county, and local alerting authorities in providing follow-up messaging, local context, and actionable guidance after the initial federal alert is issued. Listeners will gain a clear understanding of what the National Weather Service can and cannot do, and why coordinated, consistent messaging at every level is essential to public safety. Looking ahead, Dave shares his vision for the future of tsunami warnings, including improved geo-targeting with smaller polygons, better message consistency across platforms, redesigned tsunami.gov services, and a more complete end-to-end communication lifecycle—from the first alert to cancellation and post-event review. Whether you’re an emergency manager, public safety communicator, policy maker, or simply someone who received the 2024 alert and wondered “Why did I get this?”, this episode provides rare behind-the-scenes insight into a system we all depend on—often without realizing how complex it truly is. This episode is sponsored by HQE Systems — supporting smarter, more resilient emergency communications.

    48 min

  8. JAN 20

    Saving Lives Under Pressure: Pete Gaynor on Alerts, Leadership, FEMA, and the Future of Disaster Recovery

    In this episode of The Alerting Authority, hosts Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola sit down with Pete Gaynor, former FEMA Administrator and current President of Bright Harbor, for an in-depth and candid conversation about what it truly takes to save lives through effective alerts and warnings. Drawing on his experience at the local, state, and federal levels, Pete shares powerful lessons from his career—including no-notice drills gone wrong, leadership under pressure, executive decision-making, and why alerting is one of the most consequential life-saving actions an emergency manager can take. He explains how fear, lack of practice, and false assumptions continue to create gaps in alerting nationwide—and what emergency managers can do now to close them. The discussion also explores: The realities of pressing the “send alert” buttonWhy executives must be trained—not shielded—from alerting decisionsHow FEMA, states, and locals can better balance responsibility and riskThe role of AI and data in improving early warning and decision supportWhy disasters are no longer linear—and how alerting must evolveThe long-term recovery challenges facing disaster survivors todayPete also introduces his current work as President of Bright Harbor, a mission-driven organization helping disaster survivors navigate FEMA, insurance, rebuilding, and long-term recovery so they can get back home faster. This episode is proudly sponsored by HQE Systems, a disabled veteran–owned company that specializes in alert origination software and life safety electronic security solutions. HQE Systems supports alerting authorities by simplifying workflows, integrating outdoor warning sirens and indoor notifications, and helping agencies overcome real-world operational pain points—all through a single, powerful platform. Learn more about Bright Harbor: https://www.brightharbor.co Learn more about HQE Systems: https://hqesystems.com

    53 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
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Alerting Authority
  • Show Website
    The Alerting Authority

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