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University of Florida

During natural disasters and beyond, UF’s AI-enhanced BEACON keeps Florida informed

Gigi Marino
March 11, 2025

The University of Florida has launched an AI-powered Broadcast Emergency Alerts and Communications Operations Network, or BEACON, to help save lives amid natural disasters and other public emergencies.

Invented, designed and deployed by UF — in partnership with media technology firm Futuri Media and with funding from the Florida Division of Emergency Management — the innovative tool provides emergency management and other local, state and federal agencies with direct immediate access to the public for the first time. 

“Everyone assumes their cell phone will save them. But when power is out and networks fail, what then? BEACON ensures that people still receive life-saving information through free, over-the-air radio,” said Randy Wright, the executive director of the UF College of Journalism and Communications' Division of Media Properties, who came up with the idea for BEACON.

BEACON debuted at the end of 2024 in Gainesville at WUFT-FM and now operates as an “always-on” emergency alert system that continuously broadcasts official updates from local, state and federal agencies, including sheriff’s offices, municipalities and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Unlike traditional emergency alert systems that transmit a single, fleeting message, BEACON provides continuous updates, ensuring that critical information is available at all times.

Beyond weather alerts, BEACON provides updates on chemical spills, road closures and active-shooter situations. Official agencies, such as county emergency management and law enforcement offices, can input updates directly into BEACON’s secure system, making sure information is relayed without interference.

Full funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a must to keep transmitters on the air and maintain the flow of vital information that keeps people safe in times of crisis.

“Radio is still the most reliable medium,” Wright said. “If your power is out, all you need is a crank or battery-powered radio and you’re connected.”