California earthquake early warning system debuts Thursday
California debuts its new earthquake early warning alert system Thursday. It’s the first time the public will get access to the emergency network.
The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services says the warnings will be pushed through a smartphone app using the same wireless notification network that issues Amber Alerts.
The system detects the start of an earthquake, then calculates location, and intensity. It then sends alerts to people in potentially affected areas.
The statewide debut of the warning network coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. It rocked California’s central coast on October 17, 1989. The magnitude 6.9 quake killed 63 people, injured nearly 38-hundred others, and caused catastrophic damage from Santa Cruz County all the way to the San Francisco Bay area.
ShakeAlert has been developing the system for years. Last year it was made broadly available to schools, utilities and businesses. Thursday will mark the first time it will be accessible to the public.
