Topline:
Thousands of Angelenos got a cell phone alert this morning as a 4.7 magnitude earthquake centered in Malibu rattled the region. So why the noisy alert for this earthquake but not say, some of the other ones we've experienced in the region?
Alert threshold: Turns out the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system for earthquakes are only triggered for magnitude 5.0 quakes or above.
Want more alerts? Lara recommends downloading the MyShake app, which has a lower alert threshold of 4.5 magnitude quakes.
Thousands of Angelenos were jolted with a cell phone alert this morning around 7:30 a.m. that said: “Earthquake detected! Drop, Cover, Hold On,” just as a 4.7 magnitude earthquake centered in Malibu rattled the region.
So why the noisy alert for this earthquake but not say, the two quakes that struck near Ontario last weekend?
About the alert threshold
Turns out the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system for earthquakes are only triggered for magnitude 5.0 quakes or above. This morning’s temblor was preliminarily reported as a 5.0 by the USGS’s ShakeAlert system, and was downgraded to a 4.7 shortly after, so that’s why Angelenos were notified.
“We don’t want to really send an alert for every single earthquake. We want to send an alert for the consequential earthquakes. Those that you will feel in your location,” said José Lara with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
You won’t get the wireless emergency alerts unless they are turned on in your phone settings. Here’s how to do that for iPhone and Android.
Want more alerts?!
Lara recommends downloading the MyShake app, which has a lower alert threshold of 4.5 magnitude quakes.
We have earthquake resources
We don't want to scare you, but the Big One is coming. We don't know when, but we know it'll be at least 44 times stronger than Northridge and 11 times stronger than the Ridgecrest quakes in 2019. To help you get prepared, we've compiled a handy reading list:
Listen to our podcast
The Big One: The Earthquake
You’re at Union Station when the big one hits. The next two minutes are terrifying. By the time you make your way outside, the Los Angeles you know is gone. Experience what the first hours after a massive earthquake could be like.
