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What is ShakeAlert®?

The ShakeAlert® Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) System, managed by the U.S. Geological Survey, detects significant earthquakes quickly enough so that alerts can be delivered to people and automated systems potentially seconds before strong shaking arrives. ShakeAlert is the nation’s only public EEW system and it serves over 50 million residents and visitors in California, Oregon, and Washington. The purpose of the ShakeAlert System is to reduce the impact of earthquakes to save lives and property.

The USGS works with licensed technical partners who use USGS-issued ShakeAlert Messages to alert people to take a protective action or to trigger automated actions. These automated actions could include slowing trains, closing water valves, turning on backup generators, issuing public announcements, and many others.

For general information about ShakeAlert, please visit: usgs.gov/ShakeAlert

To get ShakeAlert-powered alerts on your phone, please visit: usgs.gov/faqs/how-do-i-sign-shakealertr-earthquake-early-warning-system

Who is this website for?

This website provides information and resources for ShakeAlert System Technical Partners, Emergency Managers, and Communication, Education, and Outreach Partners. Communities served include ShakeAlert Licensed Operators (LtOs), Community Emergency Response Teams – CERT, K-12 School Communities, free-choice learning environments such as museums and park visitor centers, and the media. 

PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has developed the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning system along with many partner organizations.

Primary Institutions

United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
University of Washington
University of Washington
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
University of Oregon
University of Oregon
EarthScope Consortium
EarthScope Consortium
University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Reno
Central Washington University
Central Washington University
ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich

Funding Partners

United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
City of Los Angeles
City of Los Angeles
State of Washington
State of Washington
State of Oregon
State of Oregon
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation

Other Partners

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Washington Emergency Management Division
Washington Emergency Management Division
Oregon Department of Emergency Management
Oregon Department of Emergency Management
Washington Geological Survey
Washington Geological Survey
California Geological Survey
California Geological Survey
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries