Earthquake Warning California Transportation Sector 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 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.

 

Cal OES is urging the transportation industry 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 friends, family, 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 transportation 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

 

Transportation sector employees can take steps to stay safe by downloading the MyShake App, or enabling Android Earthquake Alerts or WEAs, and ensuring they are familiar with how to receive warnings and respond to them. Seconds are valuable, they can allow people to take lifesaving actions. Location services must be “always on” for the technology to connect to nearby ground sensors. An earthquake warning can provide additional life-saving seconds, allowing transportation employees to slow or stop trains, potentially preventing fatal collisions and derailments.

 

When receive a warning or feel shaking, employees should instruct passengers to brace themselves before shaking starts. Transportation sector leaders should discuss scenarios with staff and colleagues to determine how to best incorporate earthquake warnings into existing emergency response plans, whether machinery can be put into safety mode quickly, and if automatic functions can be implemented to respond to earthquake warnings. By being prepared ahead of time, California hopes to reduce the devastating impact of earthquakes and keep Californians and visitors safe.

 

To learn which resources are available to you and how to react, visit www.earthquake.ca.gov. There, you can also sign up for our monthly e-newsletter with the latest news and information about California’s earthquake warning system.

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).

  • #EarthquakeWarningCAwarnings give (@name of your org) employees a few extra moments to take protective actions before an #earthquake. We are preparing, are you? Learn more at earthquake.ca.gov.
  • (@name of your org) is ensuring our riders are safe, even in the event of an earthquake thanks to #EarthquakeWarningCA resources. Learn more at earthquake.ca.gov.
  • #DYK (@name of your org) employees and customers can sign up to receive an #earthquake warning moments before an earthquake strikes. Check out earthquake.ca.gov for more information on no cost resources.
  • How can earthquake warnings help transportation? The #MyShake App, #AndroidAlerts, and #WEA are three methods to receive earthquake warnings, giving a few extra seconds for trains to slow down 🚂, bridges to clear 🌉, and trucks to pull over 🚚
  • Numerous fault lines run throughout #California, making earthquakes not a matter of if, but when ⌛.#EarthquakeWarningCA can give you a few extra seconds to take protective actions. Learn more at earthquake.ca.gov
  • If you are on a bus or train when an #earthquake strikes, stay where you are, hold on, and protect your head and neck. If possible, keep your seat belt fastened and wait for shaking to stop before evacuating. Learn about #EarthquakeWarningCA at earthquake.ca.gov.
  • If you are at a transit station during an #earthquake, drop to the ground, cover your head, and neck and try to get under something sturdy for protection until shaking stops. Visit earthquake.ca.gov for more info.
  • #EarthquakeWarningCA can prevent transportation related injuries and fatalities during an earthquake. Learn more at earthquake.ca.gov.

E-Blast Language

The following can be copy/pasted into an email to help inform others about Earthquake Warning California.

 

Are you prepared for an earthquake?

 

Earthquakes can happen anywhere at any time. To help keep individuals and families safe in an earthquake, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) recently launched a public education campaign to help increase awareness of the Earthquake Warning California. This education effort includes outreach to the general public to help educate them about technology that can help them stay safe and mitigate risk in an earthquake.

 

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 transportation 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

 

We encourage you and your family and support network to become familiar with earthquake preparation resources at earthquake.ca.gov. Plan and practice to respond in the event of an earthquake in a variety of situations, including industry-specific information. Sign up for the MyShake App, Android Earthquake Alerts, or WEAs, and get familiar with their visuals, sounds, and vibrations.

 

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.