{"id":73010,"date":"2025-10-01T13:41:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T17:41:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/statescoop.com\/?post_type=podcast&p=73010"},"modified":"2025-10-06T11:53:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T15:53:08","slug":"hawaii-custom-emergency-alerts","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/statescoop.com\/radio\/hawaii-custom-emergency-alerts\/","title":{"rendered":"Why geography matters in emergency messaging"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

James Barros, administrator of the Emergency Management Agency in Hawaii, says recent tests showed the need for clearer evacuation messaging in emergency alerts, tailored to each person\u2019s location. Details, he told StateScoop’s Priorities Podcast, such as whether residents are in buildings, on the beach or at high elevation, should dictate varying responses. \u201cSo if you\u2019re sitting in Waikiki, four stories and above, then probably stay there, you\u2019re OK,\u201d Barros says. \u201cIf you\u2019re a tourist and you\u2019re outside of Waikiki and you\u2019re at the Pali, don\u2019t come back into Waikiki. If at all possible, don\u2019t get on the roads. Just hunker down where you\u2019re at.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This week\u2019s top stories:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

On this episode of the Priorities podcast, James Barros, administrator of the Emergency Management Agency in Hawaii, joins us to discuss the results of the September tests. He said the tests showed the need for clearer evacuation messaging in emergency alerts, tailored to each person\u2019s physical location. Details, such as whether residents are in buildings, on the beach or at high elevation, that each require a different response. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top stories this week: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency<\/a> has confirmed it will end its long-standing cooperative agreement with the Center for Internet Security, which runs the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center. The shift could change how state and local governments access the monitoring services they rely on for cyber defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed California\u2019s SB 53<\/a>, which imposes new transparency rules on major AI developers, requiring them to disclose how they assess safety risks, publish safety protocols, and report major incidents. The new law, which takes effect in January, positions California as a leader in AI oversight as federal regulation remains in flux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New York City has extended its Big Apple Connect program<\/a> for another three years, continuing to offer free internet and cable service to residents in public housing. Since its launch in 2022, the program has already connected more than 150,000 households.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New episodes of StateScoop\u2019s<\/em> Priorities Podcast<\/em><\/a> are posted each Wednesday.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more of the latest news and trends across the state and local government technology community, subscribe to the Priorities Podcast on<\/em> Apple Podcasts<\/em><\/a>,<\/em> Google Podcasts<\/em><\/a>,<\/em>Soundcloud<\/em><\/a> or<\/em> Spotify<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

James Barros, administrator of the Emergency Management Agency in Hawaii, says emergency alerts should consider users’ locations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":73011,"template":"","meta":{"disable_grayscale_images":true,"grayscale_contrast":0,"sponsored_content":null,"display_author_bio":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23264],"tags":[13,29,150,202,3973,13110,23593,24746,25131],"people":[],"special-report":[],"authors":[4678],"show":[23743],"class_list":["post-73010","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-priorities-podcast","tag-public-safety","tag-states","tag-hawaii","tag-emergency-management","tag-state-government","tag-government-technology","tag-emergency-alerts","tag-government-it","tag-technology-news","author-statescoop-staff","show-priorities"],"yoast_head":"\nWhy geography matters in emergency messaging | StateScoop<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"James Barros, administrator of the Emergency Management 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