2019 Countywide Early Earthquake Warning (ShakeAlert) Test

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

In June 2019, the County’s Office of Emergency Services hosted the second official test of the ShakeAlert® earthquake early warning system in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES). The test was sent via the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system and included a public survey to help researchers gather data that would determine if WEA would be the most efficient way to issue early earthquake warning to Californians in the future.Staff from the County’s Office of Emergency Services, Communications Office, and an Information and Technology team worked closely with representatives and scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey and CalOES to produce an English and Spanish test survey, test an event webpage (ShakeAlertSD.org), and develop news stories, social media and various marketing materials to promote the test and engage regional stakeholder and public participation. Rubio’s Coastal Grill also joined the County’s efforts and donated incentives to encourage survey responses.As a result of these efforts, 3,268 people completed the survey and over 1,241 residents registered their cell phones with AlertSanDiego, the region’s emergency mass notification system.