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
Amber Alerts, Jargon, and Missed Opportunities: Lessons from Atlanta
During a family trip to Atlanta, Eddie’s phone — along with thousands of others — blared an Amber Alert inside the Coca-Cola Museum. But what should have been a clear, actionable notification turned into a case study in how alerts fail the public.
In this episode of The Alerting Authority, Jeannette and Eddie break down the real-world Amber Alert issued in Georgia: what the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) said, what it didn’t say, and why the Emergency Alert System (EAS) version told a completely different story.
From missing context to jargon overload, statewide over-alerting, and confusion around Levi’s Call vs. Amber Alert, they analyze how poor message design can reduce public engagement — and how research-based practices could have made this alert vastly more effective.
They also discuss public reactions, messaging problems, the importance of templates, and why plain-language communication is essential when seconds matter.