For decades, emergency alerts relied on traditional television and radio broadcasts to reach the public. As younger generations abandon traditional media sources, however, emergency officials have to get creative in how they message emergency communications.
, the Broadcast Emergency Alerts and Communications Operations Network, is harnessing artificial intelligence to transform how emergency managers analyze and disseminate life-saving information.
I spoke with Marc Jaromin, director of public safety platforms at Futuri, about the benefits of BEACON, and how AI-powered data management and dissemination is the future of emergency communications.
How BEACON works
Designed to gather emergency information from multiple sources into one accessible system, BEACON provides an efficient way to distribute critical alerts across multiple platforms, ensuring emergency professionals have access to real-time updates.
Step 1: BEACON compiles all publicly available federal, state and local government communication
BEACON is an overlay of existing information, Jaromin said. 鈥淚PAWS has all the government information from NOAA and national weather alerts to [U.S. Department of Homeland Security] notifications. The state information can come from the state control center, all the way down to the local school districts.鈥�
Step 2: BEACON translates alerts into any additional languages based on officials鈥� designations
The system uses AI and geo-targeting to automatically translate alerts for second-language speakers as set by officials.
More than 20% of non-English speaking populations miss out on traditional emergency communications, Jaromin said: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 exactly what this is designed to address.鈥�
Step 3: BEACON sends geo-targeted push alerts across TV, radio, streaming and mobile devices
The media mosaic of social media, broadcast, push notifications and other one-off forms of communication make it difficult to ensure alerts are posted everywhere they are needed.
鈥淗ow do you get to mobile? How do you get to streaming? How do you get to social and not tax the emergency manager?鈥� Jaromin asked. 鈥淓nter it once and let the system take care of all of that.鈥�
The power of AI in emergency management
AI is at the core of BEACON鈥檚 efficiency. By leveraging AI, emergency alerts are processed and distributed quickly, with more accuracy and enhanced information for specific populations.
鈥淎I is a tool, and it allows emergency managers to focus in on what they want to focus in on,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e got to get the right information out at the right time to the right people. Let the system do the work, and that鈥檚 what AI does. That鈥檚 the art of artificial intelligence.鈥�
Expanding from alerts to communications
Due to the system鈥檚 ability to geo-target and push to multiple platforms and devices quickly, emergency managers can also use BEACON to send additional information (e.g., where the closest shelters are after a tornado or a pre-blizzard reminder to wrap outside pipes).
鈥淭he public information officers are really interested in this,鈥� Jaromin said. During the most recent winter freeze in Florida, officials were pushing emergency communications through BEACON to share cold weather guidance.
鈥淚 learned, in the freeze in North Florida, the four Ps of winter preparedness in Florida 鈥� people, plants, pets and pipes,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s an event or as a season is coming, PIOs and the communication teams are preparing their communities, 鈥楾his is what you need to know.鈥� And that information, again, is available across all platforms, your device of choice.鈥�
The future of emergency alerts
Regardless of a state鈥檚 size, emergency management officials are tasked with ensuring every resident receives timely, accurate and informative alerts. Using a system like BEACON and its AI powers to more efficiently distribute information may be the answer.
鈥淎s consumer behavior has changed, this addresses it,鈥� Jaromin said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not that emergency managers aren鈥檛 getting the information out in real time. It鈥檚 not that they鈥檙e not doing their job well. [The messages] were just falling in the cracks. This addresses it.鈥�
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