Seconds Matter: Earthquake Early Warnings, False Alerts, and the Critical Need for Post-Alert Communication

In this episode of The Alerting Authority, hosts Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola take a deep dive into earthquake early warning systems, focusing on a recent ShakeAlert activation in California and Nevada that ultimately turned out to be a false alert. Using this real-world example, they explore how earthquake early warnings work, why they are fundamentally different from prediction systems, and what happens when alerts fail to meet public expectations.

Drawing on Jeannette’s extensive research funded by the U.S. Geological Survey, the conversation breaks down the ShakeAlert system itself—how ground motion is detected within fractions of a second, how models estimate magnitude and direction, and how alerts are automatically issued through Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), opt-in apps like MyShake, and Android-based systems. Eddie brings an operational and practitioner perspective, comparing alert delivery methods, opt-in versus opt-out systems, and the real-world limitations of geofencing and alert polygons.

The episode also tackles one of the most challenging issues in public alerting: what to do after an alert is sent—especially when it’s wrong. Jeannette and Eddie examine why post-alert messaging is essential for maintaining public trust, reducing fear, and preventing confusion. They draw lessons from past high-profile incidents, including the Hawaii ballistic missile false alert and earlier earthquake alerting failures, to explain why reassurance must come from the same authoritative source and through the same channel as the original warning.

Listeners will hear why delays in follow-up messaging can leave people frightened, displaced, and unsure whether it’s safe to resume normal activity—and why simply staying silent is not an option. The discussion introduces the Post-Alert Lexicon, a research-backed framework designed to help alerting authorities craft effective follow-up messages that clearly communicate safety, uncertainty, and next steps without over-alerting the public.

This episode is essential listening for emergency managers, alert originators, public information officers, researchers, and anyone responsible for issuing—or evaluating—alerts. It reinforces a core principle of emergency communication: sending the alert is only the beginning. How you follow up can determine whether the public trusts you the next time seconds truly matter.

This episode of The Alerting Authority is proudly sponsored by HQE Systems.

HQE Systems is a disabled veteran–owned company specializing in full-service alert origination and life safety solutions. From cutting-edge outdoor warning sirens and indoor notification systems to electronic mass notification platforms, HQE Systems helps agencies address their real-world alerting challenges—all managed through a single, powerful software solution.

We sincerely thank HQE Systems for their continued support and their commitment to advancing effective, reliable, and life-saving public alerting.