Florida’s Department of Emergency Management has introduced an innovative artificial intelligence alert system called Beacon just in time for the upcoming hurricane season. Communication is crucial before, during, and after storms, and this system is designed to keep the public informed even when traditional power sources fail.

Florida is now home to a pioneering alert system that uses AI to keep communication lines open, even when hurricanes strike. 

AI technology, which has already transformed workplaces and educational settings, is now stepping into disaster management.

“We are leveraging this technology as a preparedness tool as we approach severe weather season,” explained Kevin Guthrie, Director of Emergency Management.

In collaboration with the University of Florida, Guthrie has developed “Project Beacon.” This initiative will dispatch real-time alerts in both English and Spanish, tailored to specific counties and delivering precise, relevant information.

“All the data we gather is verified at local, state, or federal levels. We get our information from the Storm Prediction Center and local National Weather Service offices,” Guthrie added.

Reflecting on past experiences, former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate highlighted the communication blackout during Hurricane Andrew in 1992. “South of 122nd Street, survivors described a scene where, for as far as they could walk or see, there was no incoming information,” he recounted.

The choice of radio for this system stems from its resilience in extreme conditions. “We chose radio because it’s one of the few technologies that can survive even the worst storms,” Fugate noted.

Floridians need not wait for the next hurricane season to explore this new system; the Beacon app is now available for smartphone download.

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(Image credit: WFLA/Yahoo News)