Politics & Government
App To Give La Cañada Flintridge Early Warning For Big Quakes
The nation's first public early warning system for major quakes is available this week for Los Angeles County.
LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles County residents could soon have precious seconds of warning before the Big One hits. A new app to be unveiled Thursday will provide Angelenos with early warning for quakes of magnitude 5.0 or greater in Los Angeles County.
It is the nation's first public early warning system, and it could be a major lifesaver. The app is part of a pilot program with the U.S. Geological Survey, AT&T and The Annenberg Foundation.
"Earthquakes are a matter of when -- not if. We're officially launching #ShakeAlertLA tomorrow, and today you can become one of the first to use our early warning technology," according to a statement on Mayor Eric Garcetti's Twitter account.
Find out what's happening in La Cañada Flintridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The ShakeAlertLA app will be officially unveiled at City Hall Thursday, but you can already download the app on many mobile phones at Mayor.LA/3pwx30nakMm.
Designed to save lives by giving people time to head to safety before major building damage, it remains to be seen just how much, if any, warning residents will get.
Find out what's happening in La Cañada Flintridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"ShakeAlert is NOT a prediction that an earthquake will occur. It signals that an earthquake has started and you may feel shaking. This app is meant to help provide alerts for your safety," according to the app.
The mobile app is designed to provide advance notice that an earthquake is about to strike through a text or other electronic means. It works with the system known as ShakeAlert, which is based on a network of in- ground sensors developed by USGS to detect seismic activity.
"You may receive the alert before, during or after shaking," the app tells users. "Take protective action as soon as you receive an alert or feel or hear an earthquake. Drop, cover and hold on."
The City Council in June approved the negotiation of a $300,000 contract with AT&T and the GRYD Foundation for the design, creation and deployment of the Early Earthquake Warning System Mobile Application.
In addition to providing quake alerts, the app also includes tips on preparing for and recovering from a quake. It also includes a listing and map of recent quakes.
City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report. Photo: Shutterstock
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