New toolkit helps citizens prepare for earthquake survival – Fort Bragg Advocate-News

Mendocino, California – On April 3 and 4, Rio del, located about 108 miles northeast on Highway 101, was hit by three earthquakes. On April 3, two earthquakes were recorded respectively at 4.1m and 3.9m. On April 4, an earthquake with a magnitude of 2.9 million followed. Suppose a cell phone user in that area did not receive any text warnings. In this case, the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) operates an alert system available to anyone on the West Coast. Although drought and wildfires dominate news of natural disasters, earthquakes need not surprise Californians so much that survival is unlikely.

Seismology at Weston University. (Contributed)

The San Andreas Fault extends along the California coast for about 750 miles. It is bounded by two tectonic plates, the Pacific and North American plates. The Pacific plate is constantly moving against each other, moving northwest while the North American plate is moving south. This fault line reaches southern Mendocino County on land via Fort Ross in Sonoma County, passes through Manchester, and then travels along the Mendocino County coast to Point Arena. Here the fault line deviates away from shore and passes underwater near Mendocino and Fort Bragg. The bug swings back up the coast south of Shelter Cove, north of Westport. The possibility of a major earthquake near Fort Bragg is a given, not just a possibility.

The San Andrea Fault is very active and has been the cause of many large earthquakes of large magnitude. This past April 18 marked the 116th anniversary of the deadly San Francisco earthquake of 1906, which measured at least 7.8. On a scale of degrees, 8.0 represents an earthquake strong enough to completely destroy nearby communities. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in the Bay Area recorded a magnitude of 6.9, classifying it as a major earthquake. The quakes were felt in Mendocino County, where shock waves can travel up to 300 miles from the epicenter.

Unlike a tsunami, earthquakes cannot be predicted. However, the technology is in place to alert the public to a nearby earthquake shortly before the shocks are felt. This technology is constantly being improved and updated to shorten the time between earthquake detection and accurate public alerts. Mobile phone users can receive earthquake notification from FEMA’s Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA). The Amber Alert system is a notable part of it. Millions of cell phone users subscribe to this federal alert system for various warnings. Unfortunately, this system’s earthquake alerts do not take advantage of current technology that is more accurate in earthquake assessment and is faster to inform the nearby public.

If the phone’s settings have been modified to receive emergency alerts, users can download the free service, the MyShake app, in English or Spanish, in the Apple app or Google Play Store. Android phones are already automatically subscribed to Android Earthquake Alerts, which uses the same technology as the MyShake app. MyShake provides audible and visual warnings with a strength of 4.5 or higher and a Mercalli Intensity III (weak) vibration rate. On the other hand, the WEA sends alerts of greater volumes and severity.

The science behind this alert system is based on the basic behavior of earthquakes because earthquakes send out two different types of waves. P-waves are detected by ground sensors, which are the first type to occur. This data is transmitted to an earthquake alert center that identifies the location and magnitude of the earthquake. A constantly updated message is instantly sent to users, and may arrive either before, during, or after vibration starts in your area.

The second set of S waves and surface waves follow the P waves. It is these waves that cause damage. In general, how close the seismic sensors are to each other, how fast the data is moving, how deep it is in the ground, and whether it is moving through sand, hard ground, or bedrock determines the length of the warning. The closer you are to the epicenter, the faster you will receive the alert.

Earthquake early warning is not a prediction. The purpose of the alert is to give people precious seconds before the vibration begins to “fall, cover, and wait.” You may receive a warning if an earthquake does not occur, although this is rare. This technology will improve as all agencies and partners continue to collaborate on tuning it along with the California Integrated Seismic Network (CISN). This network uses cell phone towers and a statewide microwave system that supports the state’s 911 system and wireless communications for many state and local agencies.

Cal OES also contains recommendations for earthquake prep. They can be downloaded from their website, caloes.gov, in the form of posters or brochures to assist the public with practical steps to take before, during and after the earthquake. The site also features CSU Humbolt’s “Living on Shaky Ground” magazine, aimed at the North Coast region. The information allows the reader to think about all the decisions that come into play after this type of disaster. Especially useful are two downloadable checklists, “Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety” and “Emergency Tools Checklist”.

The “seven steps” include where to go in your home or workplace for the safest protection, what to do if you’re driving, why not use phone service afterward to locate family members or friends, why you’ll need cash in small bills, what It should be kept in your emergency kit, and also reminded to look at your pets. To address the reality of financial hardship, the site also advises purchasing inexpensive earthquake insurance, which is not covered by homeowners policies.

Various toolkits and resources designed for specific segments of the state’s population such as business, medical, utility, K-12 education, first responders, and more are also included. Easily accessible at https://earthquake.ca.gov/get-prepared.

Each county has a state OES office, usually located with other county government buildings. Its purpose is to coordinate required response services with the county government and other local agencies during and after disasters. In Mendocino County, the state’s OES office is located at 951 Low Gap Road, Ukiah, CA. The office’s phone number is 707-467-6497, and the website is www.mendocinocounty.org/government/executive-office/office-of-em Emergency-services.

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