Earlier this week, Cal OES launched Earthquake Warning
California’s “Don’t Get Caught Off Guard” education and
outreach campaign. The goal of the campaign is to educate
Californians on tools and resources available through
Earthquake Warning California, the first statewide earthquake
warning system in the nation, to help them stay safe in an
earthquake. This includes no-cost resources that can give
Californians a few moments notice before an earthquake hits,
including the MyShake App, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), and
Android Earthquake Alerts.
The campaign is a statewide education effort to help the public
learn about earthquake warning tools and resources. Cal OES, in
collaboration with the California Integrated Seismic Network
Partners from United States Geological Survey (USGS), University
of California – Berkeley (UCB), California Institute of
Technology (Cal Tech), and California Geological Survey (CGS)
launched the nation’s first State Earthquake Early Warning System
in October of 2019. The system uses ground motion sensors and
sensors in smartphones to detect an earthquake before humans can
feel it and issues a ShakeAlert® message in real time so they can
take cover before shaking happens. An earthquake warning can
provide additional life-saving seconds for people to Drop, Cover,
and Hold On.
The “Don’t Get Caught Off Guard” education campaign will deliver
messages through advertising channels including digital, social
media, and broadcast advertising, as well as outreach to
community and industry organizations to increase awareness of
available technology. The campaign will be sustained through 2022
with an optional one-year extension.
Earthquake Warning California resources include:
Information about constructing an emergency plan
How to protect yourself and your family before, during and
after an earthquake
Android Earthquake Alerts developed in partnership with Cal
OES and USGS
The MyShake App — a smartphone app developed in partnership
with Cal OES and UC Berkeley that can provide users with a few
seconds of notification that shaking is about to occur
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) — free notifications
delivered to cell phones in emergency situations.
Information for business sectors to plan for life-saving
actions in the event of an alert, such as safely slowing mass
transit systems, powering down equipment, or bringing elevators
to an emergency stop.
Links to the California Integrated Seismic Network Partners
for additional technical and system information.
If you have any questions, please reach out to:
Amanda Moyer
Program Manager
California Earthquake Early Warning Program
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Cell Phone: (916) 698-5516
