Google's Earthquake Alert System

How your Android phone can help you survive an earthquake

Earthquakes are one of the most terrifying natural disasters that can happen without warning and cause massive damage and loss of life. But what if your Android phone could alert you before an earthquake strikes, giving you precious seconds to prepare and protect yourself?

That’s the idea behind Google’s Android Earthquake Alerts System, which uses sensors in Android phones to form the world’s largest earthquake detection network and provide users with useful information and resources.

In this post, I will explain how the system works, where it is available, why it is important, and how you can join.

How does it work?

The Android Earthquake Alerts System uses the accelerometers in Android phones to sense signals that indicate an earthquake might be happening. An accelerometer is a device that measures how fast something is moving or shaking. If your phone detects something that looks like an earthquake, it sends a signal to Google’s earthquake detection server, along with a rough location of where the shaking occurred. The server then combines information from many phones to figure out if an earthquake is happening.

The system can send you two types of alerts, depending on how strong and close the earthquake is:

? Be Aware Alert: This alert warns you of light shaking and gives you more information when you tap the notification. It does not interrupt your Do Not Disturb settings.

? Act Alert: This alert breaks through your Do Not Disturb settings and plays a loud sound to get your attention. It gives you instructions to Drop, Cover, and Hold until the shaking stops.

The system can also provide you with relevant information and resources on Google Search when you look up “earthquake” or “earthquake near me”.

Where is it available?

The system is currently available in more than 20 countries around the world, including Greece, New Zealand, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, the Philippines, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan. Google plans to expand it to more regions in the future.

In some places where there is already a public infrastructure for detecting and alerting people about earthquakes, such as California, Oregon, and Washington in the US, the system works with local authorities to send alerts powered by their official sources.

Recently, on December 20, 2022, the system was also working during a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that hit Pakistan.?Many Android users in Pakistan reported that they received the alerts seconds before they felt the shaking.?This shows how effective and helpful this system can be for people living in earthquake-prone areas.

Why is it important?

Earthquakes can cause serious injuries and deaths, as well as damage buildings, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. According to Google, more than 2 billion people live in areas with high seismic risk. An early warning can make a difference in giving people time to drop, cover and hold on before the shaking arrives. It can also help them access reliable information and resources after an earthquake.

By using Android phones as mini seismometers, Google hopes to create a fast and accurate view of the impacted area and help people prepare for and recover from earthquakes. The system is designed with privacy in mind: it does not collect or store any personal data from your phone.

How can I join?

If you have an Android phone running Android 5.0 or above (which covers nearly every Android phone), you can join the Android Earthquake Alerts System by turning on location services on your device. You can also customize your alert preferences in Settings > Location > Advanced > Earthquake Alerts. By opting in, you will contribute to making the system more accurate and helpful for everyone.

What about iOS users?

If you are an iOS user and want to receive earthquake alerts on your phone, there are some apps that can provide this service based on data from official sources or crowdsourced networks. For example:

• MyShake: This app uses your phone’s sensors to detect earthquakes and contribute data to a global network of smartphones. It also provides real-time information and notifications about nearby earthquakes from USGS and other sources.
• QuakeFeed: This app shows you recent earthquakes on a map and lets you customize alerts based on location, distance, and magnitude. It also provides safety tips and links to news articles about earthquakes.

Conclusion

The android earthquake alert system is a remarkable innovation that leverages the power of Android phones to help people stay safe during earthquakes. It is a great example of how technology can make a positive impact on our lives and society.

What do you think of this system? Have you ever received an earthquake alert on your phone? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

I hope you found this post informative and useful. If you did, please share it with your network and let me know what you think in the comments below. Stay safe! ??