History Made: AlertSense Becomes First Company to Broadcast Emergency Alert System Messages in Spanish
December 16, 2020
BOISE, IDAHO — AlertSense made Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) history on December 27, 2017, when it delivered the first Emergency Alert System (EAS) test message broadcast in Spanish.
AlertSense is an alert-origination provider that equips states and local government authorities with technology to easily send EAS messages through FEMA's Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS). AlertSense's statewide test across Nevada in Spanish was a landmark achievement as it marked the first time these mandatory tests were provided in a language other than English.
“We understand the importance of delivering important emergency information to as many people as possible,” said Dave Smith, CEO at AlertSense. “ By being able to provide messages in English and Spanish, we're doing our best to ensure that more people are informed and know what to do in case of an emergency.”
The successful test means that should an actual emergency occur, information can be shared in both languages, helping to ensure that the message reaches more people in their preferred language. The messages were broadcast on television and radio stations across Nevada and some bordering counties in California.
“It’s the first time we’ve been able to offer our Spanish-language broadcasters the opportunity to carry this FCC-required test in their broadcast language,” said Adrienne Abbott, the state of Nevada's EAS Chair. “This was not just a test for Nevada broadcasters, it was an important test for the AlertSense technology used by our state and local emergency managers, law enforcement and public safety officials to issue critical information.”
About AlertSense: AlertSense provides a world-class alerting, crisis management and collaboration platform. This platform not only empowers organizations, government, and enterprises alike, to alert their citizens or employees of a crisis or emergency but also streamlines crisis response by providing efficient communication and collaboration tools. Our clients rely on us to keep millions of employees, partners, and citizens informed and protected in more than 100 countries.
