3 ms·
U.S. West Coast Now Covered by Earthquake Early Warning System
- snypher 5y agoThis is a great idea but it's a pity people will need the 'ShakeAlert' app installed. Why not just push such alert out over the Amber Alert/EAS system? Edit: it's almost wildfire season again and I need to find the url for the county fire maps from last year.
- LVB 5y ago>Alerts can come through the Wireless Emergency Alert system, which sends text-message alerts similar to Amber Alerts sent to cellphone users when a child is kidnapped.
- fragmede 5y agoWhat's omitted is that Japan has had a similar system in place since the 1990's and will stop bullet trains in order to prevent more serious accidents. It's only with the advent of smartphone and the corporation-funded infrastructure improvements that this is available on the Western Seaboard of the United States. Ignoring the commentary to be made with comparing the two countries, theres still a question of the availability and uptime guarantees of the consumer-grade cellphone network, compared to a purpose built network. 90 seconds advanced warning isn't a lot, and from experience with Amber and Presidential alerts, they can often be delayed by a few minutes, given all of the variables involved. I hope the earthquake warning system is useful. 90 seconds warning isn't much (but is the best we have available given the science), but telling me 15 seconds after an earthquake to expect one is even less useful.