When Disaster Struck But Officials Forgot The Alert Button
Since 2016, Americaās emergency alert system, IPAWS, has been the star no one wanted at the wildfire and flood party. From Tennesseeās Gatlinburg wildfire hesitations that cost 15 lives, to Californiaās Santa Cruz floods where no blaring alarms sounded (because officials feared traffic jams!), and North Carolinaās Hurricane Helene where uncertainty and lack of authorization left 100 dead. Kerr County, Texas, went Congress style on July 4, with leaders asleep or out of town while flash floods terrorized hundreds including kids at summer camp. Sonoma Countyās 2017 wildfires saw officials freeze on sending alerts due to a 'limited understanding' of IPAWSāfor which they later expanded staff and made real progress. Yet the feverish cycle of catastrophes and missed alerts continues like a bad rerun, proving disaster managementās best exercise is pushing the right button at the right time.
Share the Story
Official disaster response: canāt send alerts because sending alerts might cause traffic. Priorities, folks! Apparently, alert buttons come with training manuals thicker than evacuation routes.
If warning people your house is on fire might cause a traffic jam, maybe we should just evacuate the bureaucrats first.
Local officials treat the emergency alert button like Voldemortās name: nobody dares say it or push it until itās too late.
Source: Propublica | Published: 8/28/2025 | Author: by Jennifer Berry Hawes
More Articles in US News
Single Mom Vacations Milan, Kid Stuck With Dad's Disco Nights
US Shutdown Hits 40 Days, Senators Finally Hustle Sunday AF
Thanksgiving Airlift Cancelled: Controllers Ditch Paychecks, Not Turkeys
Trump Fights Judge Over Food Stamps Like Itās WWE Finals
Zuccotti Park Gets Christmas Glow-UpāBankers Cry Silent Tears
