CAPCOG 2026 Recap: The Biggest Alerting & Warning Lessons from Texas

What happens when emergency managers, public safety leaders, universities, public health officials, law enforcement, and alerting authorities from across Texas come together for two days of intensive training?In this episode of  The Alerting Authority, Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola break down their experience at CAPCOG 2026, where they trained professionals from across Texas on emergency communications, alerting policies, message design, public warning research, and real-world emergency scenarios.Topics include:✅ Why "we'll figure it out when something happens" is not an emergency communication strategy✅ Building alerting policies that work under pressure✅ The importance of emergency authorization and reducing notification delays✅ Cross-jurisdictional coordination and mutual aid agreements✅ Message design based on scientific research✅ The Warning Lexicon, Post-Alert Lexicon, and Message Design Dashboard✅ Active shooter communication strategies✅ Writing effective all-clear messages✅ Supporting access and functional needs populations✅ Practical exercises that improved confidence and reduced fear among alerting professionalsThe discussion highlights how training, preparation, and evidence-based practices help communities communicate more effectively during emergencies. Participants worked through real-world scenarios ranging from severe weather to active threats while learning how to craft clear, actionable warning messages.Whether you're an emergency manager, public safety professional, dispatcher, university official, or anyone responsible for crisis communications, this episode offers valuable lessons that can improve your alerting program.To learn more about what was discussed and what you can do to better understand alerting checkout TheWarnRoom.com and TheAlertingAuthority.com#AlertingAuthority #EmergencyManagement #PublicSafety #EmergencyAlerts #CAPCOG #WirelessEmergencyAlerts #EmergencyCommunications #CrisisCommunication #AlertWarning #EmergencyPreparedness