NWS team develops lifesaving emergency alert system

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NWS team develops lifesaving emergency alert system

Robert Bunge, Michael Gerber and the Wireless Alerts Team developed the Wireless Emergency Alerts system, which has sent our over 15,000 warnings since it was i...

Michael O'Connell@moconnellWFED

September 4, 2015 11:19 am

3 min read

Michael Gerber, Meteorologist, National Weather Service, NOAA

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Twenty-nine children were playing in a soccer dome in East Windsor, Connecticut, on July 1, 2013, when a cellphone alert notified the crowds that a tornado was approaching. The alert allowed the children and spectators to seek shelter in an adjacent building before the tornado destroyed the dome.

The warning came from the Wireless Emergency Alerts system, which had recently been implemented by the National Weather Service. The system sends 90-character alerts to cellphones located in the path of an oncoming hazard.

Robert Bunge, Michael Gerber and the Wireless Alerts Team developed the emergency notification system, which has sent our over 15,000 warnings since it was implemented in 2012.

“Citizens can now take immediate action when they receive an alert, saving lives and preventing injury,” said Deirdre Jones, acting director of operational systems at NWS.

For their efforts in developing this lifesaving technology, the Partnership for Public Service recently named Bunge, Gerber and the Wireless Alerts Team as finalists for the 2015 Homeland Security and Law Enforcement Medal. The award recognizes federal employees who have made important contributions in the area of homeland security and law enforcement. This includes border and transportation security, civil rights, counterterrorism, emergency response, fraud prevention and intelligence.

Getting to know Michael Gerber

Federal News Radio asked each of the Sammies finalists questions about themselves. Here are Gerber’s responses:

What three words best describe your leadership philosophy?

Passion, trust and persuasion.

What’s the best piece of advice (or words of wisdom) you’ve ever received and who gave it to you?

Steve jobs said something that I think many people never stop to think about. “Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influence it. … Once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again.” His advice instills confidence and inspires me to be a leader in innovation.

Who is your greatest role model and why?

Gen. Dwight Eisenhower. He showed that great leadership is not done from behind a desk. He knew that great leadership is about people. He saw soldiers as individuals. He built trust and credibility with them. He inspired them. He listened to his soldiers and wanted to understand their problems, so that he could remove obstacles that stood in the way of success.

What’s the last thing you read and what’s next on your reading list?

I love the book “Good to Great“. I’ve been able to apply the Hedgehog Concept with great success in my agency and that is to focus on what we do best. As for my next read, it’ll be something about World War II. I’m flat out addicted to the history of World War II and lessons learned.

Who would you most like to have lunch with and why?

My wife and daughter. Never forget the most important things in life.

The Homeland Security and Law Enforcement Medal is just one of the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals (Sammies) presented annually by the Partnership for Public Service. View a photo gallery of all the Sammies nominees.