The Alerting Authority
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.
The Alerting Authority
How Wireless Emergency Alerts Really Work | Dr. Michele Wood on The Alerting Authority
In this episode of The Alerting Authority, hosts Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola speak with one of the most influential researchers in the field of public warning systems: Dr. Michele Wood. As a core member of the team that developed the original Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) — now known as WEA (Wireless Emergency Alerts) — Dr. Wood brings unparalleled insight into how alerts are created, delivered, interpreted, and acted upon by the public.
Together, we explore the history of WEA, the evidence behind message length and content, how people understand alerts during crises, and the psychology behind protective action decision-making. Dr. Wood breaks down major findings from decades of research, including household preparedness studies, alert comprehension data, and lessons learned from disasters and national field tests.
Whether you're an emergency manager, communicator, researcher, public health leader, or technology developer, this conversation offers essential insights into what makes alerts effective, what causes failure, and how agencies can improve safety outcomes through better message design and communication strategies.
Stay tuned as we also discuss over-alerting, public trust, behavioral response, and the future of digital emergency communication.
Sponsored by HQE Solutions — a leader in IPAWS alerting, public safety technology, and emergency messaging innovation.
Learn more at: https://www.hqesolutions.com