Android Earthquake Alerts Now Available Across All 50 States, 6 US Territories

Droidlife ^ | September 3, 2024 | Tim

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Google has provided Android Earthquake Alerts to select state and country residents starting in 2020. It’s important work because even a few seconds of knowing an earthquake is about to shake your location can get you to an area that’s more safe. Today, Google announced a massive expansion of the service to all 50 US states and 6 US territories.

For users in California, Oregon and Washington, users will continue to have their alerts powered by the ShakeAlert system, utilizing traditional seismometers to detect earthquakes. For all out states and supported territories, “this expansion uses the built-in accelerometers in Android phones to bring another layer of preparedness and potentially life-saving information to people across every state,” the company explained in a blog post.

Using the accelerometer to sense vibrations and an apparent earthquake, the system quickly analyzes the crowdsourced data to determine if an earthquake is occurring. Google says it has been working with many experts to continue the system’s improvement.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Golleee. What will they think of next?

[SunkenCiv]

• YouTube terminating Tenet Media channel after US indictment [09/05/2024]
• Jesse Watters Primetime [09/05/2024]

[philman_36]

...starting in 2020.

Either that's a typo or this is some VERY late reporting.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

No, not a typo. The initial 2020 project was using USGS dedicated seismic sensor instrumentation covering the three states bordering the Pacific on the west coast of the USA. Now the warning system has been adapted and expanded to all the other states and territories by using the built-in accelerometers inside of Android smartphones.

I too did a "double-take" when I first read the story — until I slowed down and parsed the content properly! I think it is amazing, real Buck Rogers stuff.

[philman_36]

Thanks for he breakdown. I admit. I didn't read the article after having read that date. As you might imagine I considered it highly suspect.

I'll go read it now. /sheepish grin

[philman_36]

Depending on the severity of the earthquake, you’ll get two types of notifications. A little pop up on your screen if it’s pretty weak with light shaking or a complete screen takeover for moderate to extreme shaking. Just imagine, people got on in life just fine for decades with nothing more than their own senses to know an earthquake was happening.
You say Buck Rogers, I say lackluster.

[Larry Lucido]

[9YearLurker]

Seems like they’ve got down their cover story for constantly tracking our every slightest movement in real time.

[SaveFerris]

[Golleee. What will they think of next?]

Google Well, given their politics and Godless agendas, I'd say an app that determines if you have the proper barcode on your Forehead or Right Hand in order to BUY and SELL

[Adder]

Can you just turn the silly thing off?
East coast doesn’t really need it...

[DocRock]

Bookmark

[logi_cal869]

Attention all google haters on FR with android phones:

Randomly place your phone on a shaker table a few times a week, sit back and LOL.

[PrairieLady2]

The pŕoblem is that you havè to have your location on. I keep mine off unless I am travèlong, or briefly if I’m outsidè of my normal location and I need to know the weather where I’m at.

Smart phones may not be very private, but it’s sensible to make it a bit more difficult to gain ingo by outsiders.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

I love Jack Chick comics—the best!

[VanShuyten]

“…. to determine if an earthquake is occurring..”

Android phone: “(BEEP). You’ve just had an 8.3 earthquake. Seek shelter NOW”

[SaveFerris]

👍👍👍