Right Message, Right Time: Martin Ritchey on Emergency Alerts, Texas Floods, IPAWS and Everbridge

How do emergency managers make sure the right people get the right message at the right time? In this episode of The Alerting Authority, Jeannette Sutton and Eddie Bertola sit down with Martin Ritchey, Director of Homeland Security at the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG), to discuss emergency notification systems, IPAWS, Everbridge, warning fatigue, emergency preparedness, flash flood response, and lessons learned from major disasters across Texas.Martin shares how CAPCOG built one of the most successful regional alerting programs in the country through WarnCentralTexas.org, achieving exceptional community participation and improving emergency communication capabilities across a 10-county region. The conversation explores the importance of emergency alerts, public warning systems, crisis communication, emergency management training, disaster response, resilience planning, and how technology can help save lives during critical incidents.From devastating Texas floods and Winter Storm Uri to aviation disasters and emergency notification best practices, this episode offers valuable insights for emergency managers, public safety officials, alerting authorities, and anyone interested in disaster preparedness and community resilience.This episode of The Alerting Authority is proudly sponsored by Everbridge.When emergencies happen, every second matters. Everbridge helps organizations ensure the right people receive the right information at the right time. Trusted by more than 6,500 organizations worldwide, Everbridge's High Velocity Critical Event Management (CEM) platform combines advanced technology and purpose-built AI to help organizations anticipate risks, communicate during crises, and recover faster from critical events.Whether facing severe weather, operational disruptions, cybersecurity incidents, or large-scale emergencies, Everbridge provides leaders with the tools and confidence needed to make informed decisions when it matters most. From government agencies and public safety organizations to businesses and healthcare systems, Everbridge helps protect people, assets, and operations through industry-leading emergency communication and resilience solutions.Learn how Everbridge is helping organizations build safer, more resilient communities by delivering the right message at the right time at www.everbridge.com