Description

What happens when an emergency alert goes to the wrong people—or never reaches the people who need it most?

On this episode of The Alerting Authority, host Eddie Bertola welcomes William (Will) Chapman, Oregon's Statewide Interoperability and Watch Center Manager, for an in-depth conversation about emergency communications, lessons learned from major disasters, and building a more reliable statewide alert and warning system.

Drawing on his experience in 911 communications, law enforcement, fire, EMS, and emergency management, Will shares how Oregon has transformed its alerting capabilities following the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating 2020 Labor Day wildfires.

The conversation explores:

• How disasters exposed critical gaps in Oregon's emergency alerting infrastructure
• The development of OR Alert, Oregon's statewide alert and warning program
• Why training, preparedness, and preapproved message templates matter
• How emergency managers should respond when alerts are issued incorrectly
• The importance of collaboration between state, local, and tribal governments
• How multilingual alerts and geographic targeting improve emergency communications
• The future of public warning as technology and communication platforms evolve

One of the biggest takeaways? Effective emergency alerting isn't just about having the right technology. It's about building relationships, preparing before disaster strikes, and creating systems that empower people to act confidently when every second counts.

Whether you're an emergency manager, public information officer, first responder, or alerting authority, this episode offers practical insights into making emergency communications more effective.

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#EmergencyManagement #EmergencyAlerts #PublicSafety #IPAWS #ORAlert #EmergencyCommunications