Latest Projects
Consulting services include executive gap assessments, message audits and template reviews, custom training and professional services for emergency managers in the public sector, public safety departments in universities and colleges, state level agencies, and organizations providing services in the private sector.
On July 4-5, 2025, catastrophic rain and river flooding left more than 120 persons dead in Kerr County, Texas. Investigations are ongoing, but many pointed to the lack of alerts and warnings at the local level as a key lever that was not pulled at the time of extreme rainfall. While the National Weather Service issued multiple warnings through the Wireless Emergency Alert system, none were sent by local alerting authorities. Shortly after the flooding, the Warn Room, with Bertola Advisory Services, was asked to provide a custom, day-long training for representatives of the Capital Area, including emergency managers, fire, law enforcement, public health, schools, and elected officials.
Here's what some of the attendees had to say about the training:
• The day-long training covered the social psychology of alerts and warnings, the design of effective messages, the use of multiple channels for distribution, policy on message issuance, and over-alerting. Participants also engaged in exercises designed to increase message writing proficiency and competence throughout the day. Following the training, the CAPCOG requested feedback from attendees. The following are some of the key quotes regarding their experiences at the day-long event.
• Both presenters were very knowledgeable and did a great job teach as well as keeping everyone engaged.
• This course was one of the best courses that I have attended in quite some time.
• It's one thing to talk about it, but another to actually get hands-on experience. This really helps to & "seal the deal" and reinforce lessons learned, and provide a chance to test out the tools The presenters were engaging, knowledgeable, and they make it feel achievable Every Emergency Manager and Dispatcher in the CAPCOG region should take this class, it should become a part of the classes offered at the EM Conference.
• The interactive exercises were quite valuable the group of us attending from my municipality. We were able to work through the exercises as a team; becoming more proficient with each exercise.
• The presenters kept the presentation of serious material very lighthearted, interesting, and engaging. I learned a lot from this practicum and feel much more confident in my ability to craft effective emergency messaging going forward. This was, hands down, the BEST training I've received in this area. All emergency communications personnel should attend this training!
• The presenters were exceptional. I soaked up every word I learned about how people process information, get fatigued by alerts, etc. I'd go to any session taught by the sociologist (Dr. Sutton). The guy from Cali (Eddie Bertola) was bright, funny and engaging.
Across the state of New York, dozens of organizations are stakeholders in the AMBER Alert and Missing Persons process. Recent events showed the challenges these organizations face in providing effective messaging under high-pressure situations and changing technological environments. Over the course of many months, The Warn Room has partnered with Bertola Advisory Services to offer evidence-based guidance to inform effective messaging practices.
Tasks have included reviewing and advising on the design of an entire suite of text and visual products; providing guidance on messaging templates and practices; and conducting training sessions on effective message writing.
Through bi-weekly video-calls and in-person meetings, the project has addressed processes and policies, made critical decisions about language used to describe vulnerable populations, and identified strategies to improve and standardize messages.
Importantly, Dr. Sutton’s funded research on MEP alerts has helped to create a foundation of empirical studies to guide effective messaging. Continued conversations with the DCJS MPC, NYSP, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about implementing research findings into AMBER and MEP messages will inform local, state, and national practices.
If you would like help to improve your MEP and AMBER Alerts, reach out to The Warn Room today; you’ll be glad you did.
After San Mateo County was jolted by a county-wide tsunami warning they reached out to The Warn Room to help improve their alert and warning processes and messaging for future events. With 20 cities in San Mateo County, each city’s agency --including their fire departments -- have the ability to issue alerts. Inconsistent message contents and strategies were leading to a patchwork approach with varying quality of alerts. San Mateo County Emergency Management invited Jeannette to evaluate their existing messages, make recommendations for improvement, and train local officials on best practices for emergency messaging.
With her guidance, San Mateo County produced multiple products including an alert and warning template that has been shared throughout the Bay Area and a pocket-sized laminated card deck that includes all 45 messages. These products ensure a standard and consistent approach across agencies.
Jeannette has also conducted multiple in-person trainings and presentations to practitioners and elected officials, demonstrating the value of an evidence-based approach to alerts and warnings from top to bottom
The Warn Room can help you improve your messaging. Contact us at jsutton@thewarnroom.com for help.
Press from the July event:
https://www.ktvu.com/news/california-emergency-officials-review-alert-systems-wake-texas-tragedy
When Yavapai County, Arizona wanted to improve the quality and consistency of alert and warning messages across their nine incorporated cities and towns, they contacted Dr. Jeannette Sutton at The Warn Room for help.
With collaboration from law enforcement, dispatch, emergency management, and public information officers, they drew from the tools and resources provided on The Warn Room website to develop a suite of templates that align with national standards and tailored to their local needs.
Through multiple video-calls and written feedback, Dr. Sutton helped to refine their approach by auditing past alerts, and offering valuable input and guidance as they built their new templates.
“Dr. Sutton’s feedback ensured our messages weren’t just compliant –
they were clear, actionable, and constructed to motivate public response.”
~ Ashley Ahlquist, CEM and project manager
A virtual webinar capped off the months-long effort, where Dr. Sutton presented a review of the message audit and shared how evidence from social science informs the new messaging approach that Yavapai County is taking.
With new templates in hand and a foundation for alerts and warnings that is grounded in science, the County is prepared to communicate quickly and consistently when minutes matter.
The Warn Room can help you improve your messaging. Contact us at jsutton@thewarnroom.com for help.