Latest news with #MyShake
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Smartphones could help detect earthquakes and send early warnings, study finds
Scientists have developed a new system that turns Android smartphones into real-time earthquake detectors, potentially creating a faster way to warn people before a major tremor hits. The system, developed by researchers at Google, the US Geological Survey (USGS) among others, uses data from millions of phones to identify the earliest shaking signals from an earthquake. When a cluster of devices registers the same ground movement, the system flags it and sends alerts to others in nearby areas. The study, published in Science, found the network detected more than 300 earthquakes a month. In areas where alerts were sent, 85 per cent of people who later reported feeling the earthquake said they had received the alert. Of those, 36 per cent received it before the shaking began, 28 per cent during, and 23 per cent after. While the system does not replace traditional seismic sensors, it could offer a scalable, low-cost early warning tool for regions without dense scientific networks, the study says. The authors said it was especially promising for developing countries where smartphones are common but seismometers are rare. In a statement, Google said the system could give people 'a few precious seconds of warning before the shaking starts'. 'Those seconds can be enough time to get off a ladder, move away from dangerous objects and take cover.' The alerts rely on detecting fast-moving P-waves, which precede the more destructive S-waves during an earthquake. If enough phones detect the P-waves, the system sends warnings to users who may be seconds away from feeling shaking. These seconds can be enough to duck for cover, stop surgery or pause critical infrastructure. The Android Earthquake Alerts System, which began rolling out in 2020, now operates in several countries including the United States, Japan, Greece, Turkey and Indonesia. It is built directly into the Android operating system and does not require users to download a separate app. Map shows countries where Android's earthquake alert system is active (light green). Red and yellow mark areas that experienced strong (MMI 5+) and light (MMI 3–4) shaking, respectively. Grey dots show detections without alerts. Alerts in California, Oregon and Washington come from ShakeAlert (dark green). (Google) While the accuracy is not as high as scientific sensors, the researchers found that alerts from smartphones worked best in urban areas with high phone density and reliable data connections. In rural areas, coverage is more sparse and detection slower. The study builds on earlier crowdsourced earthquake initiatives like the MyShake app but benefits from being embedded natively on millions of devices. 'We believe crowdsourced systems will become increasingly important,' the authors wrote. 'By combining traditional sensors with data from personal devices, it is possible to build more resilient, inclusive early warning systems.'
San Francisco Chronicle
26-04-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
California's MyShake quake alert app surpasses 4 million downloads
The MyShake app — which alerts Californians that an earthquake is about to hit — surpassed 4 million downloads, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday. The app relies on the state's early warning system to send alerts to users' phones. The warning system uses ground motion sensors across California to notify people seconds prior to earthquakes, allowing people to prepare for shaking. 'MyShake provides Californians with life-saving seconds before earthquakes strike,' Newsom said in a statement. 'This milestone is a proud moment for California, and a reminder that preparedness is a continuous effort. We urge everyone to spread the word to friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to download this critical tool.' Newsom's Office of Emergency Services said that more than 60% of the 1,046 total sensors the warning system will eventually rely on have been installed since the early warning program started in 2019. Newsom celebrated the milestone of 4 million downloads, representing the equivalent of 10% of the state's population. The emergency services office said with the addition of more sensors, the alerts sent to MyShake app users are delivered faster and with more accuracy. The governor's office said the app has sent out more than 5 million alerts for 170 earthquakes since it was launched in 2019, while millions of other alerts have been sent out through other channels, including wireless emergency alerts reaching phones. Newsom's emergency services office said that MyShake users were notified as much as 35 seconds in advance of a 5.2 magnitude earthquake in San Diego County last week. The app, which can be downloaded for iOS and Android devices, as well as on Chromebooks, is available in English, Spanish, Chinese (traditional), Tagalog, Korean and Vietnamese, the emergency services office said. Officials advised Californians to download the free app and set a default location, which will notify users of earthquakes nearby, even if they're not currently there or if their location services are not working.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Resources to use in case of natural disasters in San Diego County
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — California is prone to earthquakes, and officials warn residents to be prepared in case a major seismic event does occur. Earthquakes can happen anywhere at any time. The following are some resources and contacts gathered from federal, state and local agencies in case of a natural disaster or emergency. U.S. Geological Survey realtime earthquake notifications Did You Feel It? Report an earthquake to USGS Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Contacts by tribe How to prepare financially View earthquake hazard maps Ensure Wireless Emergency Alerts are being delivered Download the MyShake app on Google Play and the Apple App Store Get earthquake alerts on Android devices in California California Department of Insurance California Earthquake Authority California Seismic Safety Commission ALERT San Diego Sign up for emergency alerts Download the ShakeReadySD mobile app See the latest emergencies View San Diego County's emergency map California Highway Patrol Cal Fire Caltrans Carlsbad Police Department City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Dispatch Chula Vista Police Department Coronado Police Department El Cajon Police Department Escondido Police Department La Mesa Police Department National City Police Department Oceanside Police Department San Diego Police Department San Diego County Sheriff's Office All other fire departments in San Diego County Watch earthquake emergency preparedness tips in the video player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
'That was awesome!' California's earthquake early warning system let many know about today's temblor
Monday's magnitude 5.2 temblor marked another success for California's earthquake early warning system, with users in some areas saying they received alerts on their phones before they felt shaking. The alerts in some cases provided pivotal seconds of lead time — a heads-up that could be critical in the event of a major earthquake. 'That was awesome! GREAT EARLY WARNING!!!' a resident told the USGS' ShakeAlert social media account on X. 'I got the alert on my phone near downtown San Diego several seconds before the primary [shaking] wave hit. WELL DONE!' The temblor was centered near the San Diego County mountain town of Julian. Because shaking from a quake travels at the speed of sound through rock, slower than the speed of modern communications systems, alerts sounded in some parts of Los Angeles before the shaking had even reached the city. No major damage or injuries were reported. The ShakeAlert earthquake warning system — which is operational in California, Oregon and Washington state — is run by the U.S. Geological Survey. The system relies on a vast array of seismic sensors to detect shaking as soon as it happens. That information is then sent to computers to determine whether and where to send an alert. People in Camarillo, Manhattan Beach, Palm Springs, Riverside, the San Diego neighborhood of Rancho Peñasquitos, Santa Ana and southern Orange County said they got the earthquake early warning before the shaking started, according to posts on social media and interviews with local news outlets. "Corona Del Mar here. Got the alert about 5-10 seconds before a big jolt. Great service," one resident posted on X. "I got the alert 1 second before I felt it! I'm in Palm Springs! I'm extremely impressed," another user added. Read more: California earthquake early warning system: How to get it now "SHAKE ALERT DID IT!! Had phone in hand ... and I had 5+ seconds to respond," wrote another. Geologists at the California Geological Survey's office in Los Angeles also received early warning notifications on their phones "so we were prepared for some shaking," one scientist posted on social media. One of the fastest ways people can get earthquake early warnings is by downloading MyShake, a free app developed by UC Berkeley that provides alerts in partnership with the USGS and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. The app can be downloaded to Android devices as well as on iPhones, iPads and Mac computers. Android phones also have a built-in earthquake early warning app. More than half a million people in California got early warnings through MyShake on Dec. 5 for a magnitude 7 earthquake that struck 30 miles off the Humboldt County coast; and on Dec. 9 for a magnitude 5.7 earthquake centered about 50 miles southeast of Reno, which was widely felt across Central California. San Diego County also offers the free SD Emergency app, which includes the ShakeReadySD earthquake early warning tool. Read more: California earthquake warning app is now available on more devices. Here's how to get it Some Angelenos who got the alert said it elevated what is typically a fairly normal situation — especially for longtime residents. One person posted on X that she "was, frankly, scared" after getting the "Drop. Cover. Hold on" directions from the alert, though she's lived through dozens of other quakes. That feeling, however, can lessen as people become accustomed to the alerts. For some, it's helpful to know that the shaking they're feeling is actually an earthquake, so they can take protective actions such as dropping under a desk, covering and holding on. Earthquake early warnings are now commonplace in seismically active areas around the world, including in Japan, Mexico and Taiwan. Android phones and those with the MyShake or ShakeReadySD apps installed have the lowest threshold for earthquake early warnings. They're set to trigger alerts if a quake is estimated at magnitude 4.5 or higher and the intensity of shaking at the phone's location is expected to be 'weak' — defined as Level 3 on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale. Shaking of that intensity would be noticeable to people indoors, especially on the upper floors of a building, and may cause cars to rock slightly. Some people indoors might liken the feeling to vibrations from a passing truck. Read more: California's earthquake revolution: Early-warning systems make strides, issuing more than 5 million alerts People who don't have smartphones or haven't installed early warning apps can still get alerts on their cellphones — but only when a higher magnitude or greater level of shaking is projected at their location. Those alerts are sent through the Wireless Emergency Alert system, similar to Amber Alerts. One downside to relying on the Wireless Emergency Alerts, however, is that they provide less information than an app-generated alert. There is a setting you can change on your iPhone to improve the speed, accuracy and reliability of emergency alerts, Apple says. To do that, you can turn on 'local awareness' by going to settings, then notifications; scrolling down to 'Government Alerts,' then tapping 'Emergency Alerts' and navigating to the option. On its website, MyShake suggests opening the app every month or so to keep it 'fresh and ready to receive alerts. Not using the app for a prolonged period might cause the app to be put into deep sleep.' One easy way to do this, MyShake suggests, is to click on the app when it notifies you — without any urgent, alarming warning sounds — of a significant earthquake somewhere around the world, which typically happens every two weeks. 'By tapping on this notification, and opening the MyShake app, you can keep the app fresh, and not have to rely on your own reminders.' MyShake is now available in six languages: English, Spanish, Tagalog, Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese — the last voiced in Mandarin, and using traditional characters. MyShake will use the first language that it supports from your device's language and region settings, but on an iPhone you can change the language by going to settings, then apps, and selecting MyShake before choosing a preferred language. Times staff writer Grace Toohey contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
15-04-2025
- Climate
- Los Angeles Times
‘That was awesome!' California's earthquake early warning system let many know about today's temblor
Monday's magnitude 5.2 temblor marked another success for California's earthquake early warning system, with users in some areas saying they received alerts on their phones before they felt shaking. The alerts in some cases provided pivotal seconds of lead time — a heads-up that could be critical in the event of a major earthquake. 'That was awesome! GREAT EARLY WARNING!!!' a resident told the USGS' ShakeAlert social media account on X. 'I got the alert on my phone near downtown San Diego several seconds before the primary [shaking] wave hit. WELL DONE!' The temblor was centered near the San Diego County mountain town of Julian. Because shaking from a quake travels at the speed of sound through rock, slower than the speed of modern communications systems, alerts sounded in some parts of Los Angeles before the shaking had even reached the city. No major damage or injuries were reported. The ShakeAlert earthquake warning system — which is operational in California, Oregon and Washington state — is run by the U.S. Geological Survey. The system relies on a vast array of seismic sensors to detect shaking as soon as it happens. That information is then sent to computers to determine whether and where to send an alert. People in Camarillo, Manhattan Beach, Palm Springs, Riverside, the San Diego neighborhood of Rancho Peñasquitos, Santa Ana and southern Orange County said they got the earthquake early warning before the shaking started, according to posts on social media and interviews with local news outlets. 'Corona Del Mar here. Got the alert about 5-10 seconds before a big jolt. Great service,' one resident posted on X. 'I got the alert 1 second before I felt it! I'm in Palm Springs! I'm extremely impressed,' another user added. 'SHAKE ALERT DID IT!! Had phone in hand ... and I had 5+ seconds to respond,' wrote another. Geologists at the California Geological Survey's office in Los Angeles also received early warning notifications on their phones 'so we were prepared for some shaking,' one scientist posted on social media. One of the fastest ways people can get earthquake early warnings is by downloading MyShake, a free app developed by UC Berkeley that provides alerts in partnership with the USGS and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. The app can be downloaded to Android devices as well as on iPhones, iPads and Mac computers. Android phones also have a built-in earthquake early warning app. More than half a million people in California got early warnings through MyShake on Dec. 5 for a magnitude 7 earthquake that struck 30 miles off the Humboldt County coast; and on Dec. 9 for a magnitude 5.7 earthquake centered about 50 miles southeast of Reno, which was widely felt across Central California. San Diego County also offers the free SD Emergency app, which includes the ShakeReadySD earthquake early warning tool. Some Angelenos who got the alert said it elevated what it typically a fairly normal situation — especially for longtime residents. One person posted on X that she 'was, frankly, scared' after getting the 'Drop. Cover. Hold on' directions from the alert, though she's lived through dozens of other quakes. That feeling, however, can lessen as people become accustomed to the alerts. For some, it's helpful to know that the shaking they're feeling is actually an earthquake, so they can take protective actions such as dropping under a desk, covering and holding on. Earthquake early warnings are now commonplace in seismically active areas around the world, including in Japan, Mexico and Taiwan. Android phones and those with the MyShake or ShakeReadySD apps installed have the lowest threshold for earthquake early warnings. They're set to trigger alerts if a quake is estimated at magnitude 4.5 or higher and the intensity of shaking at the phone's location is expected to be 'weak' — defined as Level 3 on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale. Shaking of that intensity would be noticeable to people indoors, especially on the upper floors of a building, and may cause cars to rock slightly. Some people indoors might liken the feeling to vibrations from a passing truck. People who don't have smartphones or haven't installed early warning apps can still get alerts on their cellphones — but only when a higher magnitude or greater level of shaking is projected at their location. Those alerts are sent through the Wireless Emergency Alert system, similar to Amber Alerts. One downside to relying on the Wireless Emergency Alerts, however, is that they provide less information than an app-generated alert. There is a setting you can change on your iPhone to improve the speed, accuracy and reliability of emergency alerts, Apple says. To do that, you can turn on 'local awareness' by going to settings, then notifications; scrolling down to 'Government Alerts,' then tapping 'Emergency Alerts' and navigating to the option. On its website, MyShake suggests opening the app every month or so to keep it 'fresh and ready to receive alerts. Not using the app for a prolonged period might cause the app to be put into deep sleep.' One easy way to do this, MyShake suggests, is to click on the app when it notifies you — without any urgent, alarming warning sounds — of a significant earthquake somewhere around the world, which typically happens every two weeks. 'By tapping on this notification, and opening the MyShake app, you can keep the app fresh, and not have to rely on your own reminders.' MyShake is now available in six languages: English, Spanish, Tagalog, Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese — the last voiced in Mandarin, and using traditional characters. MyShake will use the first language that it supports from your device's language and region settings, but on an iPhone you can change the language by going to settings, then apps, and selecting MyShake before choosing a preferred language. Times staff writer Grace Toohey contributed to this report.
