ShakeAlertLA To Be Replaced By Statewide Earthquake Early-Warning App

An earthquake early warning system created in part by Caltech will soon stop issuing notifications when another system goes online.

After Dec. 31, ShakeAlertLA will make way for a statewide app that builds on the Los Angeles platform.

ShakeAlertLA was developed with innovative software to alert residents when earthquakes reach a magnitude of 4.5 or higher, The statewide app, MyShake, builds on these techniques, said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

“Los Angeles leads the nation in earthquake resilience, and ShakeAlertLA showed how we can harness technology to provide critical warning before an earthquake hits,” Garcetti said in a statement. “The next ‘big one’ is not a matter of if, but when, and we can all do our part to stay prepared, resilient and a few seconds ahead of the game by downloading the MyShake app now.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced MyShake on Oct. 17, 2019, and since its launch it has been downloaded over a million times, according to the mayor’s office.

ShakeAlert makes use of the existing infrastructure of the California Integrated Seismic Network, including real-time waveform data streams from ~380 broadband and strong-motion stations throughout the state.

“Through working cooperatively with the U.S. Geological Survey, the city of Los Angeles delivered the country’s first cell phone app for mass delivery of earthquake early-warning alerts,” U.S. Geological Survey Director Jim Reilly said. “What we learned from our important pilot partnership with the city of L.A. has benefited people throughout the West Coast as we expand ShakeAlert.”

The system works the same way as ShakeAlertLA and detects earthquakes through ground-motion sensors. If an earthquake with a significant magnitude is detected, a ShakeAlert message is issued, warning the public before shaking begins.

ShakeAlertLA issued 100,000 early warning alerts of all recordable earthquake activity since its launch in 2018, the mayor’s office said.

“On behalf of the governor and state of California, we thank Mayor Garcetti for his leadership and work to advance seismic safety,” said Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

“We are better positioned today because of the mayor’s efforts and encourage all Angelenos to access the statewide earthquake early warning system, which can provide life-saving seconds to drop, cover and hold on before an earthquake,” Ghilarducci said.

“We are pleased to be able to expand this life-saving technology to all Californians,” he said.

ShakeAlertLA was meant to “serve as a bridge” to a statewide earthquake early warning system, the mayor’s office stated, and city officials worked with other governments to share experiences and assist them in developing earthquake early-warning programs.

Now that a statewide system is in place, the ShakeAlertLA app will stop sending alerts at the start of 2021.

The MyShake app is available for download through the Apple Store or Google Play.