Earthquake Warning California Public Utility 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 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.

 

We are urging public utility providers 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 employees, customers, community partners 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 issue 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 utility 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

 

Public utility companies 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. For the MyShake App and Android Earthquake Alerts, location services must be “always on” for the technology to connect to nearby ground sensors. An earthquake warning can provide additional life-saving seconds, such as powering down utilities that could pose a hazard in an earthquake, or putting machinery into safety mode.

 

Public utility companies 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, what warnings sound and look like, 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 Earthquake Warning for 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).

  • Are you #earthquake ready? Earthquake warnings from #EarthquakeWarningCA can give you a few moments to get to a safe place. Go to earthquake.ca.gov to learn more.
  • In an #earthquake, damaged utilities can cause unexpected secondary damage. Move away from power lines, gas tanks, and other hazards quickly. See earthquake.ca.gov for more info.
  • How can earthquake warnings help utility providers? Warnings provide a few moments to power down machinery, sound an alarm, or shut off power. Find no cost resources at earthquake.ca.gov
  • #EarthquakeWarningCA can help reduce injuries and fatalities during an earthquake. Sign up for free earthquake warning resources at earthquake.ca.gov.
  • Numerous #earthquake fault lines run throughout California. Earthquake warnings through the #MyShake App, #AndroidAlerts, and #WEA can keep you safe with a few moments warning. Learn more at earthquake.ca.gov.
  • Are you earthquake prepared? We encourage our customers to have a plan to mitigate risk. Learn how to find and turn off utilities in your home, such as water, electricity, and gas. Learn more at earthquake.ca.gov.
  • A broken pipe might catch you off guard but earthquakes don’t have to. Receive a warning notification with #EarthquakeWarningCA tools. Visit earthquake.ca.gov for more information.
  • Don’t get caught off guard by an #earthquake — warnings can provide a few extra moments to take cover. If you smell any gas after shaking stops, evacuate immediately. Visit earthquake.ca.gov for earthquake warning resources.

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 issue 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 utility 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 all utility company employees to check out resources on earthquake.ca.gov to help keep themselves and their families safe. We will be incorporating earthquake warnings into our earthquake emergency planning, including consideration for functions that can be automated in the event of an earthquake warning. We also encourage employees to teach customers they work with about earthquake warnings and what steps they can quickly take to mitigate risk from utility damage (turn off the stove if cooking, only turn gas lines off if leak detected, unplug appliances if the electricity is out, etc.).

 

We encourage you, 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.