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
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” button
- Why executives must be trained—not shielded—from alerting decisions
- How FEMA, states, and locals can better balance responsibility and risk
- The role of AI and data in improving early warning and decision support
- Why disasters are no longer linear—and how alerting must evolve
- The long-term recovery challenges facing disaster survivors today
Pete 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