FAQs

BEACON (Broadcast Emergency Alerts and Communications Operations Network) was developed through a collaboration between the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), the University of Florida's WUFT-FM/TV, the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (FPREN), and Futuri with one critical mission: to protect and save the lives of Florida residents. This innovative system leverages artificial intelligence to deliver emergency messages and life-saving updates from public safety agencies to the public quickly and in multiple languages.

The system aims to protect Floridians from various threats, including severe weather events, natural disasters, public health emergencies, and other critical situations that require immediate public attention. By breaking down language barriers and ensuring rapid communication, BEACON helps reach vulnerable populations who might otherwise miss crucial safety information. This comprehensive approach to emergency communication reflects Florida's commitment to protecting its diverse population of over 22 million residents, ensuring that every Floridian has access to potentially life-saving information when they need it most.

BEACON’s proprietary technology aggregates official public safety information from trusted, encrypted government sources, categorizes it based on urgency, and then delivers it in real time to television and radio broadcasters for immediate distribution. Citizens can also access all of BEACON’s content through the BEACON mobile app for iOS and Android, which includes interactive maps with real-time tracking information on severe weather events, amber alerts, wildfires, earthquakes, and more. BEACON is a 24/7 public safety channel, always localized and translated into multiple languages to ensure no community is overlooked.

In the weeks to come the Beacon team, consisting of leadership at WUFT/FPREN (UF), FDEM and Futuri Media will be reaching out to various broadcasters and public safety/emergency management agencies across Florida to discuss partnership opportunities to launch Beacon in various cities and markets across Florida. Interest in Beacon has been very high and we are targeting an aggressive rollout across Florida to prepare for hurricane season 2025 and beyond. If you are a broadcaster who is interested in hosting Beacon in your market, please reach out to us through the contact us link.

During disasters, cell phone and internet coverage are often lost, removing a vital source of safety information for millions. Thankfully, broadcast technology (TV and radio) continues to serve as the most resilient type of mass communication available. BEACON provides broadcasters with a trusted and reliable source of life-saving information to share with their local community long after power, and the internet are lost. 

Additionally, with society's growing interest in national news and social media, fewer local broadcasters are able to provide breaking local news. BEACON provides a direct link to content generated by local and state Emergency Management officials, ensuring the public has access to the most up-to-date information about evolving threats and crises, whether natural or manmade.

BEACON also provides content in multiple languages beyond English and Spanish, ensuring emergency crisis communication reaches every community.

Although infrastructure is in place to deliver urgent alerts to the American public in times of crisis, what communities lack today is an “always-on” source of multilingual alerts before, during, and after an emergency. BEACON enhances existing alerting methods by constantly updating its feeds, a feature not currently available anywhere else. In short, BEACON takes today’s Emergency Alerting System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts WEA to the next level.

In addition to serving as a vital source of information during emergencies, BEACON works 24/7, 365 days a year to inform communities on preparing for all potential hazards. During “blue sky” days, for example, BEACON will provide real-time alerts about weather and forecasts and share tips on what residents can do to prepare for life-threatening emergencies such as Hurricane preparedness, school safety tips, drug alerts, and more. After a disaster, BEACON can be used to point survivors toward critical recovery resources. BEACON captures content from both state and federal authorities ensuring every member of the community always has the information they need to keep their families safe when crises happen, whether natural or manmade.

BEACON aggregates information only from credible public safety sources. This includes emergency alerts from the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), Emergency Alert System (EAS), Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), National Weather Service (NWS), AMBER alerts, and vital state and local Emergency Management officials. BEACON can deliver information on small events or major, national emergencies.

BEACON is already live and delivering geo-targeted information to users in every major city in Florida through the BEACON Mobile App. In addition, through the partnership with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), and the University of Florida (UF), BEACON is also delivering information via broadcast radio in Gainesville-Ocala, Florida, on 89.1FM WUFT-HD4 with more stations launching soon.  

BEACON is currently available to all states. 

The University of Florida's WUFT-HD4 89.1FM in Gainesville-Ocala made history as the first radio station nationwide to launch BEACON, marking a significant milestone in emergency communication innovation. This groundbreaking implementation demonstrates UF's leadership in public safety technology and sets the standard for other stations across the country. Listeners can access BEACON's critical safety information through the dedicated BEACON mobile app, available on both iOS and Android devices via the Apple App Store and Google Play. Additionally, the service is expanding to other TV and radio stations nationwide, building upon the foundation established by WUFT-HD4's pioneering launch.

To listen to the BEACON stream, users can also download the BEACON mobile app, which is available on iOS and Android on the Apple App Store and Google Play. 

Florida's launch of BEACON represents a pivotal advancement in emergency management communication, addressing a critical vulnerability in our nation's public safety infrastructure. The Florida Division of Emergency Management, partnering with the University of Florida's WUFT-TV/FM and the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (FPREN), recognized that traditional emergency communication methods often fall short during major disasters when communities need information most.

BEACON's significance stems from broadcast technology's proven resilience during disasters. When other communication systems fail during hurricanes, tropical storms, wildfires, or flooding, radio broadcasts consistently reach affected populations – particularly vulnerable communities who may lack access to other information sources. This reliability makes BEACON an essential tool for emergency managers nationwide.

No. BEACON enhances existing alerting channels currently used through emergency broadcast systems. It helps local officials and broadcasters use another powerful tool to “break through the noise” to reach even more people and build crisis response and resiliency into their current communications strategies.

Visit our Contact Us page to talk with a member of our team about how BEACON can help State Emergency Managers, public safety agencies, local broadcasters, and digital media outlets.