Earthquake Warning California
Utilities Toolkit & Resources

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has helped Californians prepare for earthquakes through the Earthquake Warning California campaign. California residents and visitors can find the latest materials, resources, and news relating to the nation’s first statewide, publicly available earthquake warning system at: earthquake.ca.gov. However, we need your help getting the message out!

For utility providers in California, earthquakes are not a matter of if but when. Utility locations often span a wide region and service thousands of customers that might live along a fault line or in an area prone to earthquakes. Utility providers should have a plan in place to help mitigate risk and recover quickly following an earthquake. They should also take measures to establish a communication strategy for customers experiencing service disruptions as a result of an earthquake.

It is important to inform and educate customers on the necessary steps to check for hazards after an earthquake, such as gas leaks, damaged electrical wiring, and the potential for flooding. By helping share resources with employees and customers, utility providers can play a key role in making Californians more resilient and keeping people safe when the next major earthquake occurs.

Share the following information via newsletter or social media! For questions relating to Earthquake Warning California, email earthquakeinfo@caloes.ca.gov

Newsletter Language

Use the language below to copy/paste and share with target audiences through email blasts, newsletters, or other channels. We encourage you to share this material if you belong to a housing association, club, or social group. Please feel free to tailor or personalize it.

It’s always a good time to prepare for an earthquake. We know that there are many things to be worried about, but when it comes to earthquakes, it is not a matter of if but when one will occur. Earthquakes can cause severe damage to infrastructure and can result in injuries and fatalities. There is no earthquake season — they can strike any time of year.

Cal OES is encouraging Californians to take the time to update their emergency plan, share any emergency preparedness lists with friends and family, and download the MyShake App. Many things in life may catch us off guard, but now, earthquakes don’t have to!

Earthquake Warnings are a Game Changer: Cal OES encourages residents to have a plan for how to protect themselves in the event of an earthquake. If you receive a warning or feel shaking, there are moments to act. In some cases, people can get a jump start before shaking can be felt to take protective actions such as DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON (or LOCK, COVER, and HOLD on if using a wheelchair).

If you receive a warning or feel shaking, there are moments to act. There may be circumstances where a warning is issued, but no shaking occurs. It is always better to be on the side of caution when it comes to earthquakes. We encourage you to share this information with friends and family in California to help spread the word about the technology available to help keep them safe.

 Here are some of the ways to receive earthquake warnings:

• MyShake App. An app that can be downloaded for mobile devices at no-cost from Google Play and the Apple App Store. App users can set up a “HomeBase” location to receive earthquake warnings without having location services turned on.
• Android Earthquake Alerts. Included in new or updated Android devices, the system uses the same technology as the MyShake App.
• Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs). Text-like messages from the government during emergency situations. This includes: Presidential, Imminent Threats (fire, earthquake, floods, etc.), and AMBER alerts.

When an earthquake warning is issued from any of these sources, individuals should quickly take protective actions to stay safe, such as dropping to the ground, covering their head with their arms, and holding onto their neck with both hands until the shaking stops. Do not stand in doorways or near glass windows.

[Insert organization name] encourages our [employees/customers] to have a plan for how to protect themselves in the event of an earthquake, be it onsite, on the road, or at home. If you receive a warning, be sure to react with the assumption that shaking will occur soon after. There may be circumstances where a warning is issued, but no shaking occurs. It is always better to be on the side of caution when it comes to earthquakes. We encourage you to share this information with friends and family to help spread the word about the technology available to help keep them safe.

Please visit earthquake.ca.gov to learn more about the latest tools and resources and how to use them. You can also sign up for a regular partner e-newsletter on the website from Cal OES that includes the latest news and information about Earthquake Warning California.