Earthquake Warning California General Public 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 (WEAs) — 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 also urge individuals and families to create an emergency plan to meet their unique needs, including specific supplies (medications, etc.) and communication plans.

 

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.

Natural disasters, like earthquakes, happen unexpectedly and can create major disruptions that last long after the event is over. Emergency situations may force individuals and families to quickly find shelter or evacuate from their homes, workplaces, or other settings. By being prepared and planning ahead, Californians can quickly take life-saving actions to keep them safe in an earthquake. It’s important for all households to prepare a family disaster plan; identify safe spots to take cover in places where they live, work, and play; identify emergency escape routes; develop a communication plan; and have an emergency supply kit readily available.

To ensure all Californians are earthquake prepared, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) developed Earthquake Warning California, which is the nation’s first statewide earthquake warning system that provides several seconds of warning to mobile device users in the area before shaking occurs. Earthquake Warning California offers no-cost earthquake warning resources, including:

  • MyShake App. A mobile app that can be downloaded for mobile devices at no-cost from Google Play the Apple App Store. App location services must be set to “always on” so that ground sensors can alert those in the nearby area when shaking is detected.
  • Android Earthquake Alerts. An earthquake warning system available to any new or updated Android devices that uses that same technology as the MyShake App.
  • Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs). Text-like messages from the government during emergency situations. This includes: Presidential, Imminent Threat (fire, earthquake, floods, etc.), and AMBER alerts.

Earthquake Warning California resources are designed to notify users to quickly take protective action such as to drop, cover, and hold on. These earthquake warning tools can help protect lives and prevent damage to properties in the areas hardest hit during an earthquake. In serious shaking situations, individuals may be knocked down to the ground, so sheltering prior to shaking is the prudent thing to do.

To learn more about Earthquake Warning California, the no-cost warning alert tools, and additional resources available to the public, visit earthquake.ca.gov.

A community that prepares together can diminish the catastrophic impact of a major earthquake. Subscribe to Earthquake Warning California newsletter on the website to receive campaign toolkits, graphics, and the latest news & updates, or email earthquakeinfo@caloes.ca.gov.

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).

  • Get a jump start on what to do before an #earthquake strikes by following @cal_oes and visiting earthquake.ca.gov.
  • To help Californians prepare for the next #earthquake, @cal_oes has no-cost earthquake warnings that can be downloaded or enabled on your smartphone or tablet. Learn more at earthquake.ca.gov
  • This holiday season, talk to others in your household about #earthquake preparedness and how #EarthquakeWarningCA tools can provide a few seconds of warning before shaking starts.
  • Proper #earthquake preparedness means having an emergency supply kit that covers everyone’s needs in the house. Learn about #EarthquakeWarningCA tools like the #MyShake App, #WEAs, and #AndroidEarthquakeAlerts at earthquake.ca.gov.
  • This holiday season are you giving or getting a new phone or tablet? Download the #MyShake App / enable #AndroidEarthquakeAlerts and #WEAs to receive #earthquake warnings. If an earthquake happens, drop, cover, and hold on until shaking stops. Learn more: earthquake.ca.gov.
  • Give the gift of preparedness by sharing information with your California friends and family on how to prepare for disasters like an #earthquake. Learn about no-cost earthquake warning resources at earthquake.ca.gov.
  • If you already have the #MyShake App or #AndroidEarthquakeAlert, be sure your mobile location services are set to “always on” to connect with ground sensors that provide #earthquake warnings. Learn more at earthquake.ca.gov.
  • #Earthquake Preparedness Checklist:
  1. Visit earthquake.ca.gov 🖥️
  2. Learn about earthquake warnings from the #MyShake App, #AndroidAlerts, and #WEA
  3. Ensure emergency warnings are enabled on phones 📱
  4. Add earthquake warnings to your emergency plan
  5. Spread the word! 📣

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 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 alert 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 business 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.