When a 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook parts of southern California on Tuesday, residents in the most densely populated areas of the region received an early warning thanks to the ShakeAlert system. Robert de Groot, communication and education coordinator for the U.S. Geological Survey’s ShakeAlert, explained that there was about a 20-mile radius from the epicenter near Lamont where people had some time between receiving an alert and feeling the shaking.
ShakeAlert is a system designed to notify people in earthquake-prone regions when shaking is imminent. It collects shaking data from stations spread throughout the state, compiles it at hubs, and then forwards the information to telecom companies, which push notifications to phones through the Myshake app or the national Emergency Alert System. De Groot emphasized the importance of reducing the time it takes to detect ground motion and deliver alerts to individuals.
Although the technology has been in place for several years, many residents in southern California experienced their first significant warning before an earthquake struck on Tuesday. This event marked a successful night for ShakeAlert, with Californians expressing their reactions on social media platforms. Some were impressed by the 20+ seconds of early warning they received, while others acknowledged the system’s improvement.
Kathy Degner, a Pasadena resident, described the moment she received the alert as time seeming to stop. She emphasized the value of the system but also noted that not everyone in her vicinity received the alert. De Groot reassured that the ShakeAlert system is continuously being enhanced, utilizing every earthquake as an opportunity for improvement.
The success of ShakeAlert demonstrates the tangible value of groundbreaking technology and its promising future in protecting both individuals and infrastructure. De Groot highlighted the potential benefits of early warnings for systems like the LA Metro, which could improve their ability to respond and recover after an earthquake. The ongoing development of ShakeAlert underscores its importance in enhancing public safety and disaster preparedness.