This Bay Area County Revamps Alert System As Floods Decimate Parts Of The U.S.

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — With deadly floods sweeping the nation, the County of San Mateo convened a summit of Bay Area leaders July 9 to improve emergency alerts.

The gathering included 37 organizations from eight counties, including the San Francisco International Airport and rural fire departments.

In the same week, Texas saw over 121 deaths confirmed with 170 still missing from the Hill Country floods; Chicago had a "one-in-500-year" flash flood that dumped over 5 inches in 90 minutes; New Mexico had flash floods that killed at least three people, including two children; and North Carolina witnessed historic flooding from Tropical Storm Chantal, according to Cari E. Guittard, from the San Mateo County department of emergency management.

"The devastating events we've witnessed this week serve as a stark reminder of why this work cannot wait," said Mike Callagy, San Mateo County executive. "Natural disasters don't follow our timelines. They demand that we act with urgency and purpose now."

While wildfires dominate headlines, flooding poses California's most widespread risk, according to Guittard.

California ranks No. 3 nationally in flood fatalities with 340 deaths from 1959-2019. Also, one in five Californians live in flood-risk areas. All 58 counties have severe flood damage history and there are over $900 billion in buildings at flood risk statewide, Guittard said.

"Floods are getting flashier as our warming atmosphere holds more moisture," said Dr. Shruti Dhapodkar, San Mateo County emergency management director. "Every degree of warming increases atmospheric moisture capacity by three to four percent, making flash floods more deadly."

Internationally recognized crisis communication expert Dr. Jeannette Sutton was a featured speaker at the summit, whose research demonstrates how to transform emergency communication systems to save lives.

"When floodwaters can rise 22 feet in two hours, as they did in Texas, our communications must be immediately clear and actionable," Sutton said. "Technical jargon in moments that demand clear language isn't maximizing our potential to save lives."

Summit participants identified three essential improvements: First was clear, consistent and complete messaging. They determined emergency alerts need standardized language across all agencies to avoid confusion. Currently, five different terms are used for evacuation, causing dangerous ambiguity.

Second, was strengthened coordination. Nearly 500 people in San Mateo County have alert-sending authority.

"We all need to speak with one voice," said Dr. Dhapodkar.

This requires high coordination and commitment to consistent language for protective action, summit participants decided.

Lastly, was protecting the most vulnerable: Summit participants said alert systems must reach beyond traditional channels to ensure people with disabilities, language barriers, and limited technology access receive life-saving information and assistance.

Guittard said San Mateo County became among the first in the nation to implement Dr. Sutton's research-based alert framework, featuring 45 tested message templates for frequent hazards, 112 protective action statements across 48 hazard types and the elimination of technical jargon in favor of clear, actionable language.

"We didn't wait for a crisis to expose our gaps," Dr. Dhapodkar said. "We proactively sought expert evaluation to become a model for how alert systems should work. That collective coordination is rare in emergency management, yet it's a necessity for effective alerting in the moments that matter most."

San Mateo County’s initiative is just the start of comprehensive alert and warning reform. Dr. Sutton will return in fall 2025 for extensive hands-on training for Bay Area emergency communicators.