The Malibu City Council is calling for an urgent evaluation of emergency warning systems after the city faced repeated communication failures during recent emergencies.
The City Council discussed the emergency alerting crisis during its Aug. 11 meeting, prompted by communication breakdowns during the Franklin and Palisades fires, a recent tsunami threat, and a boil water mandate that left many residents unaware of critical safety information.
"When can we test it? Because what I'm terrified of is we can have a fire in two weeks and we can have a death," said Councilmember Haylynn Conrad, expressing frustration over implementation delays. "We have to give the residents a little bit of more security."
The city's current primary alerting systems — including web alerts, reverse 911 calls, and Wireless Emergency Alerts — all depend on electricity and cellular service, which are frequently knocked out during the Santa Ana wind events that create Malibu's highest fire danger.
Multiple Technologies Under Consideration
City officials are examining several backup systems, each with significant trade-offs in cost, coverage, and control.
The leading candidate is AlertFM, a radio-based system that would cost $950,000 for a five-year license, plus $75,000 annually in maintenance after the initial period. The system uses existing FM radio infrastructure and offers receivers costing approximately $139 each that can include bed shakers for hearing-impaired residents.
"They are happy with how the system works, it does work" said Public Safety Director Susan Dueñas about communities already using AlertFM. However, she noted maintenance challenges, including periodic reprogramming requirements and equipment failures.
Hans Laetz, general manager of KBUU-FM, is currently field-testing AlertFM receivers throughout Malibu's canyons and beaches. "It works better than I expected," Laetz told the council, though he emphasized the need for authorization to conduct full alert tests before recommending the system.
Alternative Systems Present Challenges
Tone Alert Radios offer another indoor warning option, with receivers costing $300-$450 each. While the city would maintain control over alerts, the system requires expensive infrastructure installation unless existing radio equipment can be repurposed.
Officials are exploring whether the city's existing CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) radio system could support tone alerts, potentially reducing costs.
Traditional outdoor sirens remain under consideration, with the city planning to borrow two mobile units from Los Angeles for public demonstration this fall. However, a 2020 feasibility study warned that sirens are "primarily meant for an outdoor warning system" with no guarantee residents would hear them indoors.
NOAA Weather Radios were largely dismissed after county officials declined to activate the system during the Palisades Fire. "If Palisades didn't trigger it, I'm not sure what would," Dueñas said, noting the county only uses the system for countywide emergencies.
Funding and Timeline Concerns
The city is working with FEMA and California's Office of Emergency Services to identify potential funding sources for the expensive systems.
Payment terms for AlertFM would require a 40% down payment upon signing, with additional payments as broadcast stations come online over an estimated three-to-five month installation period.
Council members emphasized the need for redundant systems rather than seeking a single perfect solution.
"I would recommend that we do as many as we can because redundancy is the key in emergencies," said Dueñas. "You can't have just one system, as we already know, because it's not always going to work."
Immediate Next Steps
The council directed staff to accelerate testing of various systems and report results directly to elected officials rather than waiting for Public Safety Commission review, citing the urgency of fire season.
Mobile siren demonstrations are expected this fall, while AlertFM testing continues. Officials emphasized that any implemented system would require extensive public education to ensure residents understand alert meanings and appropriate responses.
The push for backup alert systems reflects a broader challenge facing California communities as climate change intensifies wildfire risks while utilities implement preemptive power shutoffs during dangerous weather conditions.