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