California highlights first in the nation Earthquake Early Warning system on Great ShakeOut Day

News

Oct 17, 2024

What you need to know: At 10:17 a.m. today, Californians across the state will participate in an earthquake safety drill to "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" or "Lock, Cover, and Hold On" for individuals using a wheelchair or assistive device. In recent earthquakes felt in Southern California, alerts from the MyShake App and Earthquake Early Warning system arrived on mobile phones up to 35 seconds before shaking started.

SACRAMENTO - As millions of people participate in the international Great ShakeOut drill today, California is highlighting the importance of earthquake preparedness and the state's first-in-the-nation Earthquake Early Warning system, which provides millions of Californians extra seconds to take protective actions before shaking occurs.

The Great ShakeOut is observed annually on October 17, the date of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. This magnitude 6.9 earthquake resulted in 63 deaths, thousands injured and displaced, and widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure.

Launched under Governor Gavin Newsom's leadership, California's nation-leading Earthquake Early Warning system notifies residents in advance of shaking by using ground motion sensors across California. Fifty percent more sensors have been installed since the program launched in 2019, making the system more accurate and able to deliver alerts faster.

Alerts from the MyShake App and Earthquake Early Warning system arrived on mobile phones up to 35 seconds before shaking from recent earthquakes began. Last month, this system provided advance notification to millions of Californians in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties of a magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Malibu. In August, it alerted Californians throughout Central and Southern California ahead of shaking from a 5.2 magnitude earthquake.

"As we mark the 35th anniversary of the devastating Loma Prieta earthquake today, our state has never been more prepared to protect Californians when a serious earthquake strikes. The state's cutting-edge Earthquake Early Warning system is providing vital moments of warning for people to take lifesaving action, with more ground sensors to enhance accuracy and alert speed. I urge all Californians to sign up for these alerts through the no-cost MyShake App and learn more about the steps we can take to get prepared today."

Governor Gavin Newsom

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