WEBVTT
00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:11.839
Hey everybody, welcome to another Alerting Authority Reality Check.
00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:17.920
The whole idea is there's really so much talk out there, but there hasn't been enough change.
00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:27.679
And this is addressing specific things that need to be worked on, looked at, or just again, changed in your alerts and warning program.
00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:32.640
It's not going to be specific, hey, so-and-so agency, you're screwing up.
00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:34.640
I hope it doesn't get to that point at least.
00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:38.960
But we need to stop just talking about things and actually making changes.
00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:44.000
So I'm taking specific topics that you give me, and you're like, hey, what do you actually think about it?
00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:45.439
And I will tell you.
00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:51.119
It really bugs me to hear, well, and I hear this from friends or people in this space.
00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:52.960
They're like, hey, I heard Eddie said this.
00:00:53.119 --> 00:00:55.679
Well, sometimes it's true, sometimes it's not.
00:00:55.840 --> 00:01:02.159
So I want to go on the record and talk to you about honestly what my thoughts are regarding different topics.
00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:06.000
Um, and they really will help your program get better.
00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:08.079
The one to talk about today is templates.
00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:11.920
And you may think, okay, like this is one of the most basic ones.
00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:14.000
You know, we have templates everywhere.
00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:15.680
Well, wrong, you don't.
00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:19.040
Um, and you, as in the whole area.
00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:21.680
You may have individual agencies that have templates.
00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:22.719
That's fantastic.
00:01:22.959 --> 00:01:27.439
The follow-up question I would have is when was the last time those templates were looked at?
00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:32.079
Have they been reviewed to see if they have all the information that make a complete message?
00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:38.480
Are there templates for your 90 characters, templates for your 360 characters, templates for your EAS, right?
00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:40.159
The emergency alert system.
00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:42.239
Are you going to use audio?
00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:46.480
Are you going to strictly do a text-to-speech, right?
00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:49.359
Which again, we have issues with sometimes, right?
00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:55.359
Computers cannot get all the pronunciations for all the different roads the way that you can as a local leader.
00:01:55.599 --> 00:01:57.439
Do you have templates for your emails?
00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:04.079
Templates for if you have a reverse 911 system, if you have an SMS or a push notification.
00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:05.760
Templates are a big deal.
00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:10.080
And we're not even getting into the whole language thing yet, which we will in a second.
00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:13.280
But these are just a couple of things that bug me.
00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:16.000
And I think they bug so many other people out there.
00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:23.199
And yet the ones who have the ability to change it are all of us that are in control of our different programs.
00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:26.960
And if you're not in complete control, you can still make an impact.
00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:34.560
And whether it's talking to an executive or anything else, and if you can't get it through to them, give them my information and we will have a fun talk.
00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:40.159
Look, there are too many alerts out there that essentially just say the sky is falling.
00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:49.520
And what I mean by that is they're vague, they're not helpful, they honestly almost create more problems than they're trying to help.
00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:54.080
This is not just in missing endangered person alerts or MEP.
00:02:54.479 --> 00:03:05.759
I mean, if you have seen me train, you have seen that Amber Alert one that has gone up that just says GRI Toyot, which is G-R-Y, right?
00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:08.800
And then Toyot for the abbreviation for a Toyota.
00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:09.840
That's all it says.
00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:16.479
And it's like, thank you for presenting a fantastic example of something that is absolutely useless.
00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:19.439
And it went statewide, which is a whole other thing.
00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:35.360
But honestly, like the idea is we're supposed to be empowering people to be able to make a decision of whether or not they want to engage or if they need to engage so they can take an action, versus simply saying the sky is falling, or here, there is danger in the area.
00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:36.000
Where?
00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:39.280
I don't know, but in the area, be careful.
00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:40.800
That doesn't help anybody.
00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:43.680
And if you're thinking to yourself, well, does this really happen?
00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:50.400
Yes, it happens with fires, it happens with hazmat, happens with flooding, it happens with everything.
00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:54.960
And they're just so almost utterly useless.
00:03:55.360 --> 00:03:57.120
Um, they don't help.
00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:00.479
And and here's the hard part is the intentions are good.
00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:09.919
I get it, and I appreciate people putting in their effort, but at some point, effort needs to be supported by actual competencies, right?
00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:15.120
Because what I absolutely understand is something that has happened.
00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:19.439
Um, and if if you've ever been in this position, let me know.
00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:27.680
You're sitting there in front of the computer, you're tasked with, hey, this is happening, and you're expected just to write a wonderful complete message.
00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:45.360
Um, one thing that um executives out there, I need you to have patience for everybody in these positions, public too, because when we train in a lab and we train in an environment where people are talking, there's donuts, there's coffee, there's whatever it is, and it's like, okay, here's the situation, go ahead and write.
00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:47.120
That's one thing.
00:04:47.519 --> 00:05:01.600
But when you're in the moment and you hear the chaos that is happening, you can see the video feeds, you can get all that information, and you are tasked to write something in that moment, it sucks.
00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:02.879
It is hard.
00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:05.439
And I know from experience it is hard.
00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:16.639
Now, even with all of that, you can still do it and you can be very proficient and get that message and have it sound great and have it be helpful and get everything right.
00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:18.399
You can absolutely do it.
00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:23.839
Templates are really that thing to get you to that point.
00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:37.680
Um, I do not know a single person, and I know a lot of people in this space that can just like, okay, yeah, give me the situation, and in one minute, I can just type everything out perfectly the first time every time.
00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:38.160
Okay.
00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:39.600
I'm not that way.
00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:44.319
Um, and and there are people probably much better than me, and I they are not that way either.
00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:48.240
Um, so why are we putting ourselves in that space?
00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:57.600
There are going to be enough moments in our lives in emergency alerts and warning and everything else where we may not have a perfect template.
00:05:57.759 --> 00:05:59.279
That stuff will happen.
00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:04.720
But that's not an excuse to say, well, what we don't need templates because everything is different.
00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:06.160
That's not true either.
00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:12.480
You should have a list of templates for hazards that are very common for your area.
00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:22.800
If Florida, if you have a community or county in Florida that doesn't have anything to do with um, I don't know, hurricanes, I mean, that's an epic fail, right?
00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:23.839
Because you know that.
00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:37.839
If you have people in the tornado alley, I mean, if you don't have anything to do with high winds, you know, really bad storms in the northeast, anything else with snow, you should be able to come up with ideas of what you need templates of.
00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:40.319
And you need the activation template.
00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:43.120
Maybe you need an evacuation template.
00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:45.439
Maybe you need one that says, here's an update.
00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:49.199
Maybe you need a post alert one to say, okay, the danger is gone.
00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:53.839
You can go back to living your lives however it needs to be, but you can create templates.
00:06:54.079 --> 00:07:03.439
And I know I'm gonna get comments because it happens every time whenever I say hurricane or tornado, because people are gonna be like, well, hey, now that's the weather service.
00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:04.160
They do that.
00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:11.360
That is seriously just the oh, I mean, I get frustrated by the misunderstanding.
00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:23.199
The weather service, the National Weather Service, does send out wireless emergency alerts, um, EAS messages to your TV, radio for certain storms and and incidents.
00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:24.959
That is absolutely true.
00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:26.639
They do a good job.
00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:36.959
Um, technology is getting better, but especially as you look at their tornado models, they are they are getting really good at projecting and trying to let people know what's happening.
00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:42.399
With all that said, they do not understand the local environment.
00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:48.560
And they will be the first ones to say, do not rely on us to let you know what areas are going to flood.
00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:51.439
All we're telling you is expect a lot of rain.
00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:52.879
The same thing with the hurricane.
00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:57.199
When the hurricane's coming, it's like, yep, we're letting you know this is the path.
00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:09.839
But the high winds, the high water, all those other things that are associated with a hurricane, it's up to the local emergency manager, local alerting authority to let people know you got to get out of this campground.
00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:13.600
You got to seek higher ground if you're in this community because that's low.
00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:15.360
Or we got to do whatever it is.
00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:16.959
Here are the shelters.
00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:20.000
The National Weather Service, that is not their job.
00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:23.040
So step up and do yours, right?
00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:30.079
Uh when I see people just do the cut and paste and they call that a template from the weather service, that is absolutely incorrect to you.
00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:31.120
You need to stop.
00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:34.240
And if you are over those programs, fix it.
00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:36.240
Okay, that that is not the way to do it.
00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:41.919
You need to come up with templates to provide all this wonderful information.
00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:44.080
This is called a complete message.
00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:45.440
It has the source.
00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:46.480
Who are you?
00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:47.919
What's actually happening?
00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:52.639
Where it's happening, when it's happening, what does it actually mean for people?
00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:53.120
Right?
00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:54.159
What can it do?
00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:56.480
Guidance, what are they supposed to do?
00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:59.120
And then where can they go for more information?
00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:10.960
If you have templates done that have almost all of that input, because you should be able to come up with it, say, hey, we have one for hazardous materials.
00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:17.360
We have uh hazardous materials when we are going to ask people to go inside and stay inside, right?
00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:20.320
The shelter in place, but go inside.
00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:23.759
We have one when we need them to leave their homes immediately.
00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:32.240
We have another one for rapid flooding for an area that says we need you to immediately leave and seek higher ground.
00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:34.960
And then we have another one to say you can go back.
00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:38.799
You can truly come up with templates and they're going to stack up.
00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:50.320
I mean, if you look at all the hazards that are likely to hit your area, whether they have hit recently or likely to hit at some point, you should be prepared.
00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:56.879
Do not continue to be like those people who are surprised by Christmas every year.
00:09:57.440 --> 00:09:57.840
Right?
00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:03.039
At some point, your public is going to expect you to get this stuff right.
00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:06.799
You should, and again, welcome to 2026.
00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:09.039
This information has been out.
00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:10.159
The research is out.
00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:13.120
And if you're thinking to yourself, well, Eddie, hey, this is great.
00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:14.000
We've actually got it.
00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:15.360
We don't include this.
00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:17.039
That's absolutely wrong.
00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:17.600
Okay.
00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:19.200
You need to include this.
00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:20.960
There is actual research.
00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:25.519
When I was sending out alerts, we did not have all of this information.
00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:26.799
I wish we did.
00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:30.159
We would have written our alerts completely a lot different.
00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:33.440
I mean, we did the best we could, just like I know a lot of people are.
00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:45.200
But to have this at your fingertips, to have the research that says this is how you're supposed to write it, and then to choose not to follow it, I mean, that's pretty bad.
00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:45.759
Okay.
00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:47.759
I understand you're busy.
00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:53.360
And I and I say that, having worked graveyard swings, all those different things for years, I get it.
00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:57.039
But that is not an excuse to not have templates.
00:10:57.519 --> 00:11:00.879
I mean, freaking steal them from another agency.
00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:01.919
I don't care.
00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:07.679
But get them done and then make them applicable to you and your community.
00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:10.879
These are not things that need to be rocket science.
00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:18.240
I will say that IPAUS, which is under FEMA, they have something that's called a message design dashboard.
00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:20.799
And it is 100% free.
00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:23.200
You can go and you can get an account.
00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:26.639
You can register and say, I need help with my templates.
00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:28.960
And it has all the different hazards there.
00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:39.360
It walks you through step by step and provides you essentially with templates that you can cut and paste, you can save into a different file, you can save them there.
00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:42.879
The whole idea is you have it at your fingertips.
00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:44.720
Use it.
00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:52.559
I it's very frustrating to look on PBS Warren or any other site that you have.
00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:58.480
Uh if you're looking and seeing the different alerts that are going out that are so bad.
00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:01.600
Like it's, it's, it doesn't even list the source.
00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:05.519
It's just saying, hey, expect flooding in your area.
00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:07.519
That tells you nothing.
00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:11.759
I mean, people are gonna be like, well, it says that there's flooding, but but where?
00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:14.559
How do I really know that I am the one involved?
00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:16.000
When is it gonna happen?
00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:17.840
Should I leave the house?
00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:19.440
Um, do I need to evacuate?
00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:21.360
Like, where, like, give me more information.
00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:23.600
Where can I go to get more information?
00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:30.240
We we need to do better as a culture with emergency alerts and warnings.
00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:32.799
And the time is, well, way past.
00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:35.600
But if you're not there, the time is now.
00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:43.279
Um, because we are gonna be less forgiving when we see your messages, because I I don't know what else to do.
00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:47.200
But your community deserves more, and I want to be there to help you.
00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:52.960
But if you're not going to make those changes, then I'm gonna call it out, right?
00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:55.200
Calling balls and strikes is a real thing.
00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:58.559
And this is what the reality check is all about.
00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:02.399
Um, the last thing I want to hit for templates.
00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:08.879
I hope people know that English is not the only language spoken in the United States, right?
00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:13.200
And you can call it our official language, and that's absolutely wonderful.
00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:19.600
But when an emergency is happening, I need to get information to people in a way that they can consume it.
00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:23.679
So just like the graphic says there are over 350 languages spoken in U.S.
00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:25.679
homes according to the census.
00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:31.279
Now, you may not have 350 in your area, but you probably have over a dozen.
00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:37.440
So, what are you doing to help members of your community actually understand what it is you're asking them to do?
00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:42.879
And if your answer is, well, I send it in English, what else is there?
00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:45.519
I mean, I mean, seriously, think about it.
00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:49.120
If you have people, let's say they've immigrated here, they've become a U.S.
00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:54.559
citizen, they've done everything they're supposed to do, English is still a second language to them.
00:13:54.720 --> 00:14:11.360
And if in the moment when a tragedy, some disaster is happening, you expect them to understand the jargon of English in a critical way to make an important decision rapidly, I mean, we're honestly just not doing our job.
00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:12.159
Okay?
00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:21.279
If we have visitors, tourists, everybody else who's here, I mean, there are some gorgeous cities and places to visit across the United States.
00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:23.840
Does everybody know English who is a visitor?
00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:25.759
And do you have a responsibility to help them?
00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:27.120
Of course you do.
00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:38.720
The cool part about templates is you can make them like 90% complete, 95, 98% complete, where all you may need to input is a date, a time.
00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:43.120
You may need to put a specific location, but everything else is done.
00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:56.399
You can get those translated in advance before your emergency, so that as you're pushing out information in English, you can make sure those other languages are also available for people who need them in their language.
00:14:56.639 --> 00:15:01.679
It does go back to policy, it goes back to so many other things, and a lot of things interconnect.
00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:04.399
But the one today is templates.
00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:20.879
If you are forced to write that message in that moment, just like you saw in that picture, and they're just like typing, trying to get it all right, how likely do you think it is that you will have the same information in Spanish and every other language that exists?
00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:23.279
How about American Sign Language?
00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:25.759
Are you gonna have it or not?
00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:27.759
So chances are low.
00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:31.679
And and honestly, it's it it's gotta be frustrating.
00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:35.759
I mean, I know it's frustrating for your community, or have they come to expect that?
00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:39.039
Like, we need to get to a point where you can have this.
00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:52.000
I think gone truly is the time when you can stand in front of a camera and say, Well, um, I put together a message that said everybody should be, you know, concerned because we have a lot of rain, so be safe.
00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:59.120
I would not be surprised if you're fired at this point, because again, the resources are available.
00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:04.799
And again, the resources I've talked to you about for the message design dashboard are free.
00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:08.960
Okay, when it comes to translations, work within your agencies.
00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:11.679
If you aren't sure how to do it, go to your county.
00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:14.240
If your county's not sure, go to your state.
00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:20.559
Okay, there are resources available, and you don't have to reinvent the wheel every single time.
00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:24.480
That's what the whole thing with sharing and neighbors and all that fun stuff is.
00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:24.960
Okay.
00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:29.840
Last point, and we're gonna end this for right now for the reality check.
00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:32.080
Key points about templates.
00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:34.879
They are not an option.
00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:36.879
You need templates.
00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:41.840
Do not put yourself in that position to sit there and try to write it in that moment.
00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:46.799
Um, there will not be, and this is one of those caveats, right?
00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:49.759
Because again, I see the feedback that I get from these.
00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:56.000
It is not probable that you are going to create a template for every single situation.
00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:57.440
I absolutely get it.
00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:13.440
But for all the ones that you can expect, it's one of those, uh Gordon Graham, um, a famous guy, um, especially within the California Patrol and in leadership, says predictable is preventable.
00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:25.119
If you can predict which disasters, hazards, and things that may impact your area, then you can put yourself in a state to be prepared or as prepared as possible for those.
00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:28.480
Okay, number two, pre-approved information.
00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:34.559
That's one of the coolest parts about a template is you don't have to go up the chain 50 times.
00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:40.960
And I say up the chain, it's truly up, back, down, because they want to correct a word, back up and down, and so on.
00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:46.160
We we know in advance what information is going to be okay to say.
00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:49.039
And again, each agency may be a little different.
00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:53.039
I get it, but you'll have something there that is ready to go.
00:17:53.200 --> 00:18:00.160
And the last one, which is uh growing more and more, these are translation friendly.
00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:11.599
And we can translate them in a time of peace, a blue sky moment, as it said, so that everyone in your community can receive the information.
00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:16.000
Um, again, there's a lot of cool things happening with translation.
00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:22.880
It is to the point now where you can no no longer say, I'm only sending it in English.
00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:23.519
Okay.
00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.440
We need to do better.
00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:28.480
And beyond that, your community needs to do better.
00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:47.279
And I just go back to the basic questions of what percentage of your population that you're representing, and and again, if you're just one of the public who are listening to this, deserves to get critical information to make a decision to save their own life or of their families.
00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:48.799
And the answer is 100%.
00:18:49.920 --> 00:19:04.400
So we need to look at this a little differently to provide realistic, practical, and complete messages for not only the public that speaks English, but for everybody else.
00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:06.640
This is your reality check.
00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:25.039
And I hope if you are listening to this and you do not have a good idea of what templates you have or when they were last checked, and if they don't have everything, I hope you're saying to yourself, I am going to take the action now so we don't send out like bad messages anymore.
00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:28.799
Make that decision today and start that process today.
00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:31.680
If you don't have templates at all, start today.
00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:34.960
Start with one hazard and then go for two and so on.
00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:41.440
If you are like freaking Eddie, like I have 50 templates for everything, that's fantastic.
00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:44.240
Okay, you're a unicorn, great, right?
00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:50.720
Go back and check them again because there is research coming out all the time.
00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:54.000
And in fact, one of the people you know I work with the most, Dr.
00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:55.279
Jeanette Sutton.
00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:59.279
Um, there's her website, which is warnroom.com.
00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:11.279
Um, please go and look because she updates with all the different research, and then we actually try to put it on the podcast too, as more stuff comes out so that you can do it.
00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:14.559
This is not one of those things that you can check every five years.
00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:17.839
Okay, make it a priority, help your community.
00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:19.279
We are there for you.
00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:27.359
And and again, I know we talk kind of harsh sometimes, and that may be what I'm doing now, but really, this is the reality check.
00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:28.799
It is time to get better.
00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:33.839
And if you have any other questions, comments, topics you want me to cover, please reach out.
00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:42.319
Again, this is Eddie Bertola with the Alerting Authority, and I am one of you trying to make everybody better, and I appreciate your support.
00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:11.839
Hey everybody, welcome to another Alerting Authority Reality Check.
00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:17.920
The whole idea is there's really so much talk out there, but there hasn't been enough change.
00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:27.679
And this is addressing specific things that need to be worked on, looked at, or just again, changed in your alerts and warning program.
00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:32.640
It's not going to be specific, hey, so-and-so agency, you're screwing up.
00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:34.640
I hope it doesn't get to that point at least.
00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:38.960
But we need to stop just talking about things and actually making changes.
00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:44.000
So I'm taking specific topics that you give me, and you're like, hey, what do you actually think about it?
00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:45.439
And I will tell you.
00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:51.119
It really bugs me to hear, well, and I hear this from friends or people in this space.
00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:52.960
They're like, hey, I heard Eddie said this.
00:00:53.119 --> 00:00:55.679
Well, sometimes it's true, sometimes it's not.
00:00:55.840 --> 00:01:02.159
So I want to go on the record and talk to you about honestly what my thoughts are regarding different topics.
00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:06.000
Um, and they really will help your program get better.
00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:08.079
The one to talk about today is templates.
00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:11.920
And you may think, okay, like this is one of the most basic ones.
00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:14.000
You know, we have templates everywhere.
00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:15.680
Well, wrong, you don't.
00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:19.040
Um, and you, as in the whole area.
00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:21.680
You may have individual agencies that have templates.
00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:22.719
That's fantastic.
00:01:22.959 --> 00:01:27.439
The follow-up question I would have is when was the last time those templates were looked at?
00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:32.079
Have they been reviewed to see if they have all the information that make a complete message?
00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:38.480
Are there templates for your 90 characters, templates for your 360 characters, templates for your EAS, right?
00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:40.159
The emergency alert system.
00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:42.239
Are you going to use audio?
00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:46.480
Are you going to strictly do a text-to-speech, right?
00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:49.359
Which again, we have issues with sometimes, right?
00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:55.359
Computers cannot get all the pronunciations for all the different roads the way that you can as a local leader.
00:01:55.599 --> 00:01:57.439
Do you have templates for your emails?
00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:04.079
Templates for if you have a reverse 911 system, if you have an SMS or a push notification.
00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:05.760
Templates are a big deal.
00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:10.080
And we're not even getting into the whole language thing yet, which we will in a second.
00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:13.280
But these are just a couple of things that bug me.
00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:16.000
And I think they bug so many other people out there.
00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:23.199
And yet the ones who have the ability to change it are all of us that are in control of our different programs.
00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:26.960
And if you're not in complete control, you can still make an impact.
00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:34.560
And whether it's talking to an executive or anything else, and if you can't get it through to them, give them my information and we will have a fun talk.
00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:40.159
Look, there are too many alerts out there that essentially just say the sky is falling.
00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:49.520
And what I mean by that is they're vague, they're not helpful, they honestly almost create more problems than they're trying to help.
00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:54.080
This is not just in missing endangered person alerts or MEP.
00:02:54.479 --> 00:03:05.759
I mean, if you have seen me train, you have seen that Amber Alert one that has gone up that just says GRI Toyot, which is G-R-Y, right?
00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:08.800
And then Toyot for the abbreviation for a Toyota.
00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:09.840
That's all it says.
00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:16.479
And it's like, thank you for presenting a fantastic example of something that is absolutely useless.
00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:19.439
And it went statewide, which is a whole other thing.
00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:35.360
But honestly, like the idea is we're supposed to be empowering people to be able to make a decision of whether or not they want to engage or if they need to engage so they can take an action, versus simply saying the sky is falling, or here, there is danger in the area.
00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:36.000
Where?
00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:39.280
I don't know, but in the area, be careful.
00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:40.800
That doesn't help anybody.
00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:43.680
And if you're thinking to yourself, well, does this really happen?
00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:50.400
Yes, it happens with fires, it happens with hazmat, happens with flooding, it happens with everything.
00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:54.960
And they're just so almost utterly useless.
00:03:55.360 --> 00:03:57.120
Um, they don't help.
00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:00.479
And and here's the hard part is the intentions are good.
00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:09.919
I get it, and I appreciate people putting in their effort, but at some point, effort needs to be supported by actual competencies, right?
00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:15.120
Because what I absolutely understand is something that has happened.
00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:19.439
Um, and if if you've ever been in this position, let me know.
00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:27.680
You're sitting there in front of the computer, you're tasked with, hey, this is happening, and you're expected just to write a wonderful complete message.
00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:45.360
Um, one thing that um executives out there, I need you to have patience for everybody in these positions, public too, because when we train in a lab and we train in an environment where people are talking, there's donuts, there's coffee, there's whatever it is, and it's like, okay, here's the situation, go ahead and write.
00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:47.120
That's one thing.
00:04:47.519 --> 00:05:01.600
But when you're in the moment and you hear the chaos that is happening, you can see the video feeds, you can get all that information, and you are tasked to write something in that moment, it sucks.
00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:02.879
It is hard.
00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:05.439
And I know from experience it is hard.
00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:16.639
Now, even with all of that, you can still do it and you can be very proficient and get that message and have it sound great and have it be helpful and get everything right.
00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:18.399
You can absolutely do it.
00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:23.839
Templates are really that thing to get you to that point.
00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:37.680
Um, I do not know a single person, and I know a lot of people in this space that can just like, okay, yeah, give me the situation, and in one minute, I can just type everything out perfectly the first time every time.
00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:38.160
Okay.
00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:39.600
I'm not that way.
00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:44.319
Um, and and there are people probably much better than me, and I they are not that way either.
00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:48.240
Um, so why are we putting ourselves in that space?
00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:57.600
There are going to be enough moments in our lives in emergency alerts and warning and everything else where we may not have a perfect template.
00:05:57.759 --> 00:05:59.279
That stuff will happen.
00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:04.720
But that's not an excuse to say, well, what we don't need templates because everything is different.
00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:06.160
That's not true either.
00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:12.480
You should have a list of templates for hazards that are very common for your area.
00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:22.800
If Florida, if you have a community or county in Florida that doesn't have anything to do with um, I don't know, hurricanes, I mean, that's an epic fail, right?
00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:23.839
Because you know that.
00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:37.839
If you have people in the tornado alley, I mean, if you don't have anything to do with high winds, you know, really bad storms in the northeast, anything else with snow, you should be able to come up with ideas of what you need templates of.
00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:40.319
And you need the activation template.
00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:43.120
Maybe you need an evacuation template.
00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:45.439
Maybe you need one that says, here's an update.
00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:49.199
Maybe you need a post alert one to say, okay, the danger is gone.
00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:53.839
You can go back to living your lives however it needs to be, but you can create templates.
00:06:54.079 --> 00:07:03.439
And I know I'm gonna get comments because it happens every time whenever I say hurricane or tornado, because people are gonna be like, well, hey, now that's the weather service.
00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:04.160
They do that.
00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:11.360
That is seriously just the oh, I mean, I get frustrated by the misunderstanding.
00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:23.199
The weather service, the National Weather Service, does send out wireless emergency alerts, um, EAS messages to your TV, radio for certain storms and and incidents.
00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:24.959
That is absolutely true.
00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:26.639
They do a good job.
00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:36.959
Um, technology is getting better, but especially as you look at their tornado models, they are they are getting really good at projecting and trying to let people know what's happening.
00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:42.399
With all that said, they do not understand the local environment.
00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:48.560
And they will be the first ones to say, do not rely on us to let you know what areas are going to flood.
00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:51.439
All we're telling you is expect a lot of rain.
00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:52.879
The same thing with the hurricane.
00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:57.199
When the hurricane's coming, it's like, yep, we're letting you know this is the path.
00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:09.839
But the high winds, the high water, all those other things that are associated with a hurricane, it's up to the local emergency manager, local alerting authority to let people know you got to get out of this campground.
00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:13.600
You got to seek higher ground if you're in this community because that's low.
00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:15.360
Or we got to do whatever it is.
00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:16.959
Here are the shelters.
00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:20.000
The National Weather Service, that is not their job.
00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:23.040
So step up and do yours, right?
00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:30.079
Uh when I see people just do the cut and paste and they call that a template from the weather service, that is absolutely incorrect to you.
00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:31.120
You need to stop.
00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:34.240
And if you are over those programs, fix it.
00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:36.240
Okay, that that is not the way to do it.
00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:41.919
You need to come up with templates to provide all this wonderful information.
00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:44.080
This is called a complete message.
00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:45.440
It has the source.
00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:46.480
Who are you?
00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:47.919
What's actually happening?
00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:52.639
Where it's happening, when it's happening, what does it actually mean for people?
00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:53.120
Right?
00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:54.159
What can it do?
00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:56.480
Guidance, what are they supposed to do?
00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:59.120
And then where can they go for more information?
00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:10.960
If you have templates done that have almost all of that input, because you should be able to come up with it, say, hey, we have one for hazardous materials.
00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:17.360
We have uh hazardous materials when we are going to ask people to go inside and stay inside, right?
00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:20.320
The shelter in place, but go inside.
00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:23.759
We have one when we need them to leave their homes immediately.
00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:32.240
We have another one for rapid flooding for an area that says we need you to immediately leave and seek higher ground.
00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:34.960
And then we have another one to say you can go back.
00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:38.799
You can truly come up with templates and they're going to stack up.
00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:50.320
I mean, if you look at all the hazards that are likely to hit your area, whether they have hit recently or likely to hit at some point, you should be prepared.
00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:56.879
Do not continue to be like those people who are surprised by Christmas every year.
00:09:57.440 --> 00:09:57.840
Right?
00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:03.039
At some point, your public is going to expect you to get this stuff right.
00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:06.799
You should, and again, welcome to 2026.
00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:09.039
This information has been out.
00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:10.159
The research is out.
00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:13.120
And if you're thinking to yourself, well, Eddie, hey, this is great.
00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:14.000
We've actually got it.
00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:15.360
We don't include this.
00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:17.039
That's absolutely wrong.
00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:17.600
Okay.
00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:19.200
You need to include this.
00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:20.960
There is actual research.
00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:25.519
When I was sending out alerts, we did not have all of this information.
00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:26.799
I wish we did.
00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:30.159
We would have written our alerts completely a lot different.
00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:33.440
I mean, we did the best we could, just like I know a lot of people are.
00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:45.200
But to have this at your fingertips, to have the research that says this is how you're supposed to write it, and then to choose not to follow it, I mean, that's pretty bad.
00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:45.759
Okay.
00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:47.759
I understand you're busy.
00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:53.360
And I and I say that, having worked graveyard swings, all those different things for years, I get it.
00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:57.039
But that is not an excuse to not have templates.
00:10:57.519 --> 00:11:00.879
I mean, freaking steal them from another agency.
00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:01.919
I don't care.
00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:07.679
But get them done and then make them applicable to you and your community.
00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:10.879
These are not things that need to be rocket science.
00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:18.240
I will say that IPAUS, which is under FEMA, they have something that's called a message design dashboard.
00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:20.799
And it is 100% free.
00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:23.200
You can go and you can get an account.
00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:26.639
You can register and say, I need help with my templates.
00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:28.960
And it has all the different hazards there.
00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:39.360
It walks you through step by step and provides you essentially with templates that you can cut and paste, you can save into a different file, you can save them there.
00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:42.879
The whole idea is you have it at your fingertips.
00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:44.720
Use it.
00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:52.559
I it's very frustrating to look on PBS Warren or any other site that you have.
00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:58.480
Uh if you're looking and seeing the different alerts that are going out that are so bad.
00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:01.600
Like it's, it's, it doesn't even list the source.
00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:05.519
It's just saying, hey, expect flooding in your area.
00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:07.519
That tells you nothing.
00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:11.759
I mean, people are gonna be like, well, it says that there's flooding, but but where?
00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:14.559
How do I really know that I am the one involved?
00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:16.000
When is it gonna happen?
00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:17.840
Should I leave the house?
00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:19.440
Um, do I need to evacuate?
00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:21.360
Like, where, like, give me more information.
00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:23.600
Where can I go to get more information?
00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:30.240
We we need to do better as a culture with emergency alerts and warnings.
00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:32.799
And the time is, well, way past.
00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:35.600
But if you're not there, the time is now.
00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:43.279
Um, because we are gonna be less forgiving when we see your messages, because I I don't know what else to do.
00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:47.200
But your community deserves more, and I want to be there to help you.
00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:52.960
But if you're not going to make those changes, then I'm gonna call it out, right?
00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:55.200
Calling balls and strikes is a real thing.
00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:58.559
And this is what the reality check is all about.
00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:02.399
Um, the last thing I want to hit for templates.
00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:08.879
I hope people know that English is not the only language spoken in the United States, right?
00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:13.200
And you can call it our official language, and that's absolutely wonderful.
00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:19.600
But when an emergency is happening, I need to get information to people in a way that they can consume it.
00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:23.679
So just like the graphic says there are over 350 languages spoken in U.S.
00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:25.679
homes according to the census.
00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:31.279
Now, you may not have 350 in your area, but you probably have over a dozen.
00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:37.440
So, what are you doing to help members of your community actually understand what it is you're asking them to do?
00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:42.879
And if your answer is, well, I send it in English, what else is there?
00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:45.519
I mean, I mean, seriously, think about it.
00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:49.120
If you have people, let's say they've immigrated here, they've become a U.S.
00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:54.559
citizen, they've done everything they're supposed to do, English is still a second language to them.
00:13:54.720 --> 00:14:11.360
And if in the moment when a tragedy, some disaster is happening, you expect them to understand the jargon of English in a critical way to make an important decision rapidly, I mean, we're honestly just not doing our job.
00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:12.159
Okay?
00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:21.279
If we have visitors, tourists, everybody else who's here, I mean, there are some gorgeous cities and places to visit across the United States.
00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:23.840
Does everybody know English who is a visitor?
00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:25.759
And do you have a responsibility to help them?
00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:27.120
Of course you do.
00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:38.720
The cool part about templates is you can make them like 90% complete, 95, 98% complete, where all you may need to input is a date, a time.
00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:43.120
You may need to put a specific location, but everything else is done.
00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:56.399
You can get those translated in advance before your emergency, so that as you're pushing out information in English, you can make sure those other languages are also available for people who need them in their language.
00:14:56.639 --> 00:15:01.679
It does go back to policy, it goes back to so many other things, and a lot of things interconnect.
00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:04.399
But the one today is templates.
00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:20.879
If you are forced to write that message in that moment, just like you saw in that picture, and they're just like typing, trying to get it all right, how likely do you think it is that you will have the same information in Spanish and every other language that exists?
00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:23.279
How about American Sign Language?
00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:25.759
Are you gonna have it or not?
00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:27.759
So chances are low.
00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:31.679
And and honestly, it's it it's gotta be frustrating.
00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:35.759
I mean, I know it's frustrating for your community, or have they come to expect that?
00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:39.039
Like, we need to get to a point where you can have this.
00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:52.000
I think gone truly is the time when you can stand in front of a camera and say, Well, um, I put together a message that said everybody should be, you know, concerned because we have a lot of rain, so be safe.
00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:59.120
I would not be surprised if you're fired at this point, because again, the resources are available.
00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:04.799
And again, the resources I've talked to you about for the message design dashboard are free.
00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:08.960
Okay, when it comes to translations, work within your agencies.
00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:11.679
If you aren't sure how to do it, go to your county.
00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:14.240
If your county's not sure, go to your state.
00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:20.559
Okay, there are resources available, and you don't have to reinvent the wheel every single time.
00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:24.480
That's what the whole thing with sharing and neighbors and all that fun stuff is.
00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:24.960
Okay.
00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:29.840
Last point, and we're gonna end this for right now for the reality check.
00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:32.080
Key points about templates.
00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:34.879
They are not an option.
00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:36.879
You need templates.
00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:41.840
Do not put yourself in that position to sit there and try to write it in that moment.
00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:46.799
Um, there will not be, and this is one of those caveats, right?
00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:49.759
Because again, I see the feedback that I get from these.
00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:56.000
It is not probable that you are going to create a template for every single situation.
00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:57.440
I absolutely get it.
00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:13.440
But for all the ones that you can expect, it's one of those, uh Gordon Graham, um, a famous guy, um, especially within the California Patrol and in leadership, says predictable is preventable.
00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:25.119
If you can predict which disasters, hazards, and things that may impact your area, then you can put yourself in a state to be prepared or as prepared as possible for those.
00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:28.480
Okay, number two, pre-approved information.
00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:34.559
That's one of the coolest parts about a template is you don't have to go up the chain 50 times.
00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:40.960
And I say up the chain, it's truly up, back, down, because they want to correct a word, back up and down, and so on.
00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:46.160
We we know in advance what information is going to be okay to say.
00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:49.039
And again, each agency may be a little different.
00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:53.039
I get it, but you'll have something there that is ready to go.
00:17:53.200 --> 00:18:00.160
And the last one, which is uh growing more and more, these are translation friendly.
00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:11.599
And we can translate them in a time of peace, a blue sky moment, as it said, so that everyone in your community can receive the information.
00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:16.000
Um, again, there's a lot of cool things happening with translation.
00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:22.880
It is to the point now where you can no no longer say, I'm only sending it in English.
00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:23.519
Okay.
00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.440
We need to do better.
00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:28.480
And beyond that, your community needs to do better.
00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:47.279
And I just go back to the basic questions of what percentage of your population that you're representing, and and again, if you're just one of the public who are listening to this, deserves to get critical information to make a decision to save their own life or of their families.
00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:48.799
And the answer is 100%.
00:18:49.920 --> 00:19:04.400
So we need to look at this a little differently to provide realistic, practical, and complete messages for not only the public that speaks English, but for everybody else.
00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:06.640
This is your reality check.
00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:25.039
And I hope if you are listening to this and you do not have a good idea of what templates you have or when they were last checked, and if they don't have everything, I hope you're saying to yourself, I am going to take the action now so we don't send out like bad messages anymore.
00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:28.799
Make that decision today and start that process today.
00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:31.680
If you don't have templates at all, start today.
00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:34.960
Start with one hazard and then go for two and so on.
00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:41.440
If you are like freaking Eddie, like I have 50 templates for everything, that's fantastic.
00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:44.240
Okay, you're a unicorn, great, right?
00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:50.720
Go back and check them again because there is research coming out all the time.
00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:54.000
And in fact, one of the people you know I work with the most, Dr.
00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:55.279
Jeanette Sutton.
00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:59.279
Um, there's her website, which is warnroom.com.
00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:11.279
Um, please go and look because she updates with all the different research, and then we actually try to put it on the podcast too, as more stuff comes out so that you can do it.
00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:14.559
This is not one of those things that you can check every five years.
00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:17.839
Okay, make it a priority, help your community.
00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:19.279
We are there for you.
00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:27.359
And and again, I know we talk kind of harsh sometimes, and that may be what I'm doing now, but really, this is the reality check.
00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:28.799
It is time to get better.
00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:33.839
And if you have any other questions, comments, topics you want me to cover, please reach out.
00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:42.319
Again, this is Eddie Bertola with the Alerting Authority, and I am one of you trying to make everybody better, and I appreciate your support.
