Statewide Earthquake App To Replace ShakeAlertLA In 2021

LOS ANGELES, CA — The ShakeAlertLA app will stop issuing earthquake warnings after Dec. 31, and it was announced Wednesday that people can download a free statewide app that builds on the Los Angeles app.

According to Mayor Eric Garcetti's office, ShakeAlertLA was developed with personal privacy protections and communication methods, in addition to innovative software to alert residents when earthquakes reach a magnitude of 4.5 or higher. The statewide app, MyShake, builds on these techniques, Garcetti said.

"Los Angeles leads the nation in earthquake resilience, and ShakeAlertLA showed how we can harness technology to provide critical warning before an earthquake hits," Garcetti said in a statement. "The next `big one' is not a matter of if, but when, and we can all do our part to stay prepared, resilient and a few seconds ahead of the game by downloading the MyShake app now."

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced MyShake on Oct. 17, 2019, and since its launch it has been downloaded over a million times, according to the mayor's office. According to the app's website, it collects data from motion sensors while the phone is stationary, then uses a neural network to decide which motion is produced by earthquakes. When it detects an earthquake, its network of phones records the shaking to collect data, and sends out alerts before the earthquake occurs.

The app will release alerts before a big earthquake that provide advice for what to do, a map of where the earthquake takes place, and a log of important information about the quake, complete with user reports. It also provides information on how to recover after a quake hits.

"Through working cooperatively with the U.S. Geological Survey, the city of Los Angeles delivered the country's first cell phone app for mass delivery of earthquake early-warning alerts," U.S. Geological Survey Director Jim Reilly said. "What we learned from our important pilot partnership with the city of L.A. has benefited people throughout the West Coast as we expand ShakeAlert."

The system works the same way as ShakeAlertLA and detects earthquakes through ground-motion censors. If an earthquake with a significant magnitude is detected, a ShakeAlert message is issued, warning the public before shaking begins.

ShakeAlertLA issued 100,000 early warning alerts of all recordable earthquake activity since its launch in 2018, the mayor's office said.

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"On behalf of the governor and state of California, we thank Mayor Garcetti for his leadership and work to advance seismic safety," said Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

"We are better positioned today because of the mayor's efforts and encourage all Angelenos to access the statewide earthquake early warning system, which can provide life-saving seconds to drop, cover and hold on before an earthquake. We are pleased to be able to expand this life-saving technology to all Californians."

ShakeAlertLA was meant to "serve as a bridge" to a statewide earthquake early warning system, the mayor's office stated, and city officials worked with other governments to share experiences and assist them in developing earthquake early-warning programs.

Now that a statewide system is in place, the ShakeAlertLA app will stop sending alerts at the start of 2021.

The MyShake app is available for download through the Apple Store or Google Play.

— City News Service and Patch editor Michael Wittner contributed to this report.