A new system to improve the way Floridians are alerted to natural disasters – such as hurricanes – was launched today. Known as BEACON, this innovative technology delivers safety alerts and emergency information from official government sources directly to the public in their native languages.

BEACON utilizes data from state agencies and emergency managers to provide timely alerts. An AI-generated voice then disseminates the information through radio and a mobile app.

Danil Anstandig, CEO of Futuri, one of the partners in the statewide alert system, explained the process: “Beacon is not scraping random information from the web or social channels. Beacon is taking information directly from statewide agencies and the statewide control center. It prioritizes the information based on urgency and critical need.”

Anstandig also highlighted the system’s ability to translate information for users: “It will automatically identify your location and adopt the language set as your default on your phone. This means you don’t have to navigate extensive menus to use the Beacon mobile app.”

The program was launched in partnership with the University of Florida, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, WUFT, and the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network. For more details, visit BEACON.

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(Image credit: BEACON website)