For decades, sirens were almost the only option for public alerting. Then came phone-based systems. Now, with social convergence touching every part of our daily lives, mobile technologies and social networks have been included in most organizations' array of alerting methods.

Are sirens still relevant today? Although not prevalent in Canada, sirens are still the most commonly used alerting tool in many areas in the US particularly for tornado warnings.. In fact, in some areas, they are used so much that a "siren fatigue" phenomenon has crept in limiting their usefulness.. Systems that use various kinds of tones are particularly challenging for residents. What does each tone mean? Even reverse 9-1-1 systems are being called into question just when a massive shift to moble phones is taking place.

Clarity is an essential element of alerting networks. The following excerpt is taken from the report of the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) following the Joplin tornado which devastated the small town in Missouri: 

Multiple factors contributed to a delayed or incomplete response by people in the tornado's path, including lack of awareness of the tornado's approach, confusion about or distrust of the emergency messages prior to the tornado's arrival, and an inability to perceive risk due to the conflicting information. While outdoor siren systems prompted many residents to seek further information about whether or not there was a true hazard, people were often confused by multiple information sources.

Efforts are being made to redefine the role of outdoor sirens and establish clear standards and best practices. The reality is that authorities need to break through the clutter when alerting residents. We are constantly bombarded my all sorts of messages.Which ones are critical? Or could save our lives? Hence, why many agencies, such as NOAA and the National Weather Service are adopting stronger language.

Changes need to be broader to make modern warning/alerting systems relevant and effective. Here's why according to a report prepared by the National Weather Service following the Joplin event:

The majority of Joplin residents did not immediately take protective action upon receiving a first
indication of risk (usually via the local siren system), regardless of the source of the warning.
Most first chose to further assess their risk by waiting for, actively seeking, and filtering 
additional information before taking protective actions.

A critical point here: people make on-the-spot assessment of the risks. They talk to friends and family. That's where social convergence tools can either help or hinder public alerting. Social networks are not perfect tools nor should they be the only alerting system used. But authorities can take advantage of the fact that people build their own organic warning and news networks using socially-convergent tools.

The good thing is that key players are actually looking at the role social networks play in how people share information and warnings. As more science-based evidence and more generally-accepted practices emerge, the likelihood of effective emergency messaging using mobile devices and social networks increases. It's important because technology keeps making warnings even more precise whether they are for tornadoes or other natural disasters.

The results of this academic work will be critical in fostering acceptance of these new tools. Many jurisdictions though, are not waiting and are ensuring their alerting programs remain relevant. From Massachusetts to Mississippi, apps and mobile tech are being used NOW.

Where do you sit? Do you believe like I do, that mobile and social are ultimately how agencies will be able to stay relevant by using the tools their audiences use (mobile devices) and moving at the speed of their audiences (the speed of social networks) ?  Or should we wait until we have so much catching up to do it'll be nearly impossible?