Earthquake Warning California Telecommunications Providers Toolkit

 

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) invites Californians and visitors to join the Earthquake Warning California’s “Don’t Get Caught Off Guard” earthquake early warning awareness campaign.

 

Earthquakes can and will happen throughout California. Earthquake Warning for California provides free tools — the MyShake App, Android Earthquake Alerts, and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) — to supplement existing resources and give users a few extra moments to take cover and warn others before an earthquake. Understanding how to recognize alerts and what to do when receiving a warning is critical.

 

The breakdown of essential communication services can lead to preventable loss of life and damage to property due to delays and errors in emergency responses. Cal OES is urging telecommunication organizations to help spread the word about the importance of being earthquake prepared, understand the capabilities of Earthquake Warning California resources, and know what to do when an earthquake warning goes out.

 

To receive monthly updates on earthquake preparedness news, events, technology, and other resources, sign up for our e-newsletter at earthquake.ca.gov. 

 

The following information can be tailored and shared with customers, providers, subcontractors, personnel, and others via newsletters, social media posts, and email blasts. For questions email earthquakeinfo@caloes.ca.gov.

Newsletter Language

Share the text below through email, newsletters, or other channels. Personalize it as needed.

 

Did You Know? Most Californians say they are very or somewhat knowledgeable about the steps they can take to prepare for a natural disaster such as an earthquake, yet 60% remain highly concerned about the potential impact of a disaster on their household. To ensure all Californians are prepared, the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) recently launched the “Don’t Get Caught Off Guard” campaign to promote awareness of critical earthquake warning resources available at no-cost through Earthquake Warning California.

 

Earthquake Warning California’s “Don’t Get Caught Off Guard” campaign is a statewide education effort to help the public learn about earthquake warning tools and resources. Cal OES, in collaboration with the California Integrated Seismic Network Partners from United States Geological Survey (USGS), University of California – Berkeley (UCB), California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and California Geological Survey (CGS) launched the nation’s first State Earthquake Early Warning System in October of 2019. The system uses ground motion sensors and sensors in smartphones to detect an earthquake before humans can feel it and issues a ShakeAlert® Message in real time so they can take cover before shaking happens. An earthquake warning can provide additional life-saving seconds for people to Drop, Cover, and Hold On.

 

Earthquake Warning California resources include:

  • Information about constructing an emergency plan
  • How to protect yourself and your family before, during and after an earthquake
  • Android Earthquake Alerts developed in partnership with Cal OES and USGS
  • The MyShake App — a smartphone app developed in partnership with Cal OES and UC Berkeley that can provide users with a few seconds of notification that shaking is about to occur
  • Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) — free notifications delivered to cell phones in emergency situations
  • Information for telecommunication and other sectors to plan for life-saving actions in the event of an alert, such as safely slowing mass transit systems, powering down equipment, or bringing elevators to an emergency stop
  • Links to the California Integrated Seismic Network Partners for additional technical and system information

 

Telecommunications organizations can take steps to keep themselves and the community safe by downloading the MyShake App, ensuring WEA is enabled on their mobile device, or enabling Android Earthquake Alerts, to receive a warning as soon as sensors detect significant seismic activity. Employees should ensure they are familiar with how to receive warnings and respond to them. Seconds are valuable, they can allow people to take lifesaving actions. For MyShake App and Android Earthquake Alerts, location services must be “always on” for the technology to connect to nearby ground sensors.

 

Earthquake warnings can also allow a few extra moments to put equipment into safety mode or reprovision connections to avoid data loss. Discuss scenarios with staff and colleagues to determine how to best incorporate earthquake warnings into existing emergency response plans. By being prepared ahead of time, California hopes to reduce the devastating impact of earthquakes and keep Californians and visitors safe.

 

Please visit www.earthquake.ca.gov to learn more about the latest tools and resources, and how to use them. Sign up for a regular partner e-newsletter that includes the latest news and information about Earthquake Warning California.

Social Media (Graphics)

The following can be tailored and used on personal social media pages or by organizations to help spread awareness about Earthquake Warning California. Hashtags (#) help others looking for information to see trending posts, while using the @ symbol tags other organizations (use @Cal_OES for Twitter and @CaliforniaOES for Facebook).

  • #EarthquakeWarningCA alerts give (@name of your org) personnel and customers a few extra moments to take cover before an #earthquake. We are preparing — are you? Learn more at earthquake.ca.gov.
  • After an #earthquake, electricity could be shut off in a public safety emergency. Make sure portable cell phone batteries are part of your emergency. Visit earthquake.ca.gov for tips to prepare.
  • There are many things that can catch you off guard, but earthquakes don’t have to. Resources from #EarthquakeWarningCA can keep customers and their families safe in an emergency. Visit earthquake.ca.gov.
  • How can earthquake warnings help telecommunications? The #MyShake App, #AndroidAlerts, and #WEA provides earthquake warnings, giving us time to put essential equipment into safety mode so communications can continue or resume quickly. Visit earthquake.ca.gov for resources.
  • During an emergency like an #earthquake, telecommunications can quickly be overrun by individuals calling emergency services or loved ones. Consider using texts for family and friends and limit social media activity and voice calls so that phone networks stay open for emergencies.
  • (@ Your organization’s name) is proud to be a part of #EarthquakeWarningCA and providing Californians with earthquake warnings. Learn how you can receive a no-cost notification at earthquake.ca.gov.

E-Blast Language

The following can be copy/pasted into an email for internal staff communications. Please tailor as appropriate.

 

Earthquakes can happen anywhere at any time. To help keep individuals and families safe in an earthquake, the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) recently launched a public education campaign to help increase awareness of Earthquake Warning California. This education effort also includes outreach to telecommunications organizations throughout California to help educate staff about technology that can help them stay safe in an earthquake and potentially take steps to mitigate secondary hazards, such as downed communication lines.

 

Earthquake Warning California’s “Don’t Get Caught Off Guard” campaign is a statewide education effort to help the public learn about earthquake warning tools and resources. Cal OES, in collaboration with the California Integrated Seismic Network Partners from United States Geological Survey (USGS), University of California – Berkeley(UCB), California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and California Geological Survey (CGS) launched the nation’s first State Earthquake Early Warning System in October of 2019. The system uses ground motion sensors and sensors in smartphones to detect an earthquake before humans can feel it and issues a ShakeAlert® Message in real time so they can take cover before shaking happens. An earthquake warning can provide additional life-saving seconds for people to Drop, Cover, and Hold On.

 

Earthquake Warning California resources include:

  • Information about constructing an emergency plan
  • How to protect yourself and your family before, during and after an earthquake
  • Android Earthquake Alerts developed in partnership with Cal OES and USGS
  • The MyShake App — a smartphone app developed in partnership with Cal OES and UC Berkeley that can provide users with a few seconds of notification that shaking is about to occur
  • Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) — free notifications delivered to cell phones in emergency situations
  • Information for telecommunication organizations to plan for life-saving actions in the event of an alert, such as safely slowing mass transit systems, powering down equipment, or bringing elevators to an emergency stop
  • Links to the California Integrated Seismic Network Partners for additional technical and system information

 

We encourage all employees to check out resources on earthquake.ca.gov to help keep themselves and their families safe. We also will be incorporating earthquake warnings into existing earthquake emergency planning. If possible and safe to do so, employees should quickly take actions to power down heavy machinery and get to a safe place when an earthquake warning is issued. Onsite teams should ensure they identify potential hazards well ahead of time, such as equipment that can be reinforced or bolted down, and take steps to mitigate risks.

 

You can also sign up to receive monthly e-newsletters with the latest news and information about earthquake warnings, new materials, virtual presentations, social media posts and other resources on Cal OES’ website. For more information visit earthquake.ca.gov or email earthquakeinfo@caloes.ca.gov.