Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
LA Now Has An Earthquake Alert App To Warn Us Before The Big One Hits
A bridge in Oaxaca, Mexico after a magnitude 8.1 earthquake. A quake of similar strength could hit California any time. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
()
Mayor Eric Garcetti officially unveiled an app Thursday morning that lets users know when a major earthquake is about to shake Los Angeles County.
The app, called ShakeAlertLA, sends notifications to let users know if a quake of 5.0 magnitude or greater has started, buying anywhere from a few seconds to tens of seconds before heavy shaking starts. That difference, says Caltech seismologist Tom Heaton, can "really affect how you react...before and during an earthquake."
Officials point out that the app does not predict earthquakes before they happen, but detects them early. According to a website associated with the app, the technology works by detecting P-wave energy -- the first energy to emanate from an earthquake -- allowing the app to detect where the earthquake is coming from, and how strong it will be. An alert is then issued to people who've downloaded ShakeAlertLA.
Support for LAist comes from
KPCC/LAist's head of podcasting, Arwen Champion-Nicks, has been spearheading a new podcast called "The Big One: Your Survival Guide," which details everything listeners need to know to get through a major earthquake in Southern California. She said the warning app could save lives.
"A few seconds of warning can make a huge difference," Champion-Nicks said. "It can be the difference between getting out of an elevator because the doors pop open, and being stuck in an elevator for 19 days. It can be the difference between having enough warning to get under your desk so nothing hits you in the head, and getting hit in the head so hard you don't remember that you have a desk."
The app was built by the city of Los Angeles in partnership with AT&T and using the ShakeAlert system developed by the U.S. Geological Survey. It's been well received so far, though some criticism has been levied over the fact that users are required to turn on their location to "Always On" in order to receive that potentially life-saving alert.
Great to hear that #ShakeAlertLA app is released! It is also important that the code is all open source, since it has to use your location and people might be worried about what it is doing with that “tracking” data. I hope someone does independent audit to check https://t.co/qsCS9jmxF3
— Dr. Eric J Fielding, PhD (@EricFielding) January 2, 2019
Still, it's probably worth considering, since "the science gives us every reason to believe that a big one is more likely than a 90210 reunion," Champion-Nicks said.
The app became available for download on Wednesday, for both iPhone and Android.
Want to know how to prepare for an earthquake? Have question about how to survive the Big One? Ask us below:
Support for LAist comes from
Hey, thanks. You read the entire story. And we love you for that. Here at LAist, our goal is to cover the stories that matter to you, not advertisers. We don't have paywalls, but we do have payments (aka bills). So if you love independent, local journalism, join us. Let's make the world a better place, together. Donate now.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago. -
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
Best of LAist