Short earthquake warning proposed in California

| 04.26.2007 | 08:01:587031 |

April 26 '07: Seismologists, state and local officials and other officials in California are considering a new plan for short earthquake alert systems which would send out a warning 10 to 20 seconds after the epicenter releases its first wave to outlying areas, the San Jose Mercury News reported.

Though the amount of time is small, the Mercury News reported that some of the advantages of the system would allow public transit officials to slow their trains and metro cars down, while "Fire stations could open their garage doors and get their engines ready to roll. Interstate metering lights could all be turned to red to keep vehicles at stop," and elevators in buildings could be held at floor level to prevent people from becoming trapped if the power were to fail.

Richard M. Allen, a seismologist at the University of California-Berkely told the Mercury News, "I think it's clear there's a benefit to having a warning system like this. ... And we're developing one of the most accurate warning systems that exists."

Through a public/private partnership, scientists are "testing a prototype system which would work by "measuring the fastest-moving waves from a quake, and sending an alert before the slower but more devastating waves hit," the Mercury News reported.

nationalearthquakeresponse.pdf