Скачать или смотреть Craig Fugate on Why Emergency Managers Fail at Warning the Public | The Alerting Authority

In this premiere episode of The Alerting Authority, hosts Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola welcome former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate for a powerful, no-nonsense conversation about the real challenges facing emergency alerting in the U.S.

Fugate breaks down why alert failures usually come from people, not technology—and why emergency managers must be trained, confident, and ready to issue immediate warnings when minutes matter. The discussion dives into the difference between notifications, alerts, and true warnings, the risks of overusing opt-in systems, and why consistent practice is essential for saving lives.

If you are an emergency manager, public safety leader, alert originator, or anyone involved in crisis communication, this episode delivers critical insights into building a more resilient and responsive warning system.\

Key Topics Covered

Why alerting failures are typically human—not technical

The importance of real-world training and message practice

Why “If you can’t warn, you can’t protect”

The difference between notifications, alerts, and warnings

Barriers to issuing alerts and how to overcome them

Best practices for message clarity and audience reach

Why public alerting cannot rely solely on opt-in systems

⏱️ Timestamped Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to The Alerting Authority
01:12 – Why Craig Fugate joined the show
03:20 – The problem with alerting hesitation
06:45 – Humans vs. technology: what actually fails
10:30 – Training, practice, and operator confidence
14:50 – Notifications vs. Alerts vs. Warnings
18:22 – Why opt-in systems are not enough
23:40 – The “Goldilocks Question” of alert timing
27:10 – Designing better public warning messages
32:05 – What emergency managers must do differently
36:28 – Final thoughts from Craig Fugate

Thank you to our sponsor of this video TheBentEar.com.

The Bent Ear Company specializes in strengthening public communication, emergency alerting, and community engagement through research-driven strategies and practical expertise. With a focus on how people receive, interpret, and act on critical information, Bent Ear helps organizations craft clearer messages, design more effective warning systems, and build trust with the audiences they serve. Through training, consultation, and communication analysis, the company empowers agencies and practitioners to communicate with clarity when it matters most.