Android Earthquake Alerts now available across the U.S.

Sep 03, 2024

[[read-time]] min read

With Android, we're able to send early earthquake warnings — no matter where you are in the U.S.

Boone Spooner

Group Product Manager, Android and Pixel Safety

An illustration of an Android earthquake alert that says drop, cover, hold

Safety alerts play a crucial role in helping people prepare for natural disasters and emergencies. This is especially true for earthquakes, where early warnings can make all the difference. To help millions of Android users stay safe, the Android Earthquake Alerts System can provide early warnings seconds before shaking starts. Starting today, we’re expanding the system to cover all 50 U.S. states and 6 U.S. territories. The rollout will be completed over the coming weeks.

How Android Earthquake Alerts work in the U.S.

Since 2020, we've partnered with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and the ShakeAlert® system to make Android Earthquake Alerts available in California, Oregon and Washington. These alerts rely on traditional seismometers to detect earthquakes. To supplement these existing government earthquake alert systems and bring early warnings to places that do not have USGS ShakeAlert®, 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.

A map of the U.S. that shows that Android Earthquake Alerts are available in all 50 states and six territories

These accelerometers can sense vibrations, which indicate that an earthquake may be happening. When phones in an area detect shaking, the Android Earthquake Alerts System analyzes the crowdsourced data to determine if an earthquake is occurring. This technology is already being used to deliver alerts in 97 other countries.

If an earthquake of magnitude 4.5 or greater is detected, two types of warning alerts will be sent to your phone:

"Be Aware" Alert: This alert signals weak or light shaking, giving you a heads-up to prepare for potential stronger shaking.
"Take Action" Alert: This alert indicates that moderate to extreme shaking is expected, and prompts you to take immediate action to protect yourself.

Image of the two different types of Android earthquake alerts

Once the shaking is over, you can tap for tips on what to do next. You can also see earthquake information from Android Earthquake Alerts in Google Search – simply search for “Earthquake near me”.

Collaboration for continuous improvement

We've collaborated with renowned seismologists like Dr. Lucy Jones, dedicated academic researchers like Dr. Jeannette Sutton, and disaster response organizations like the Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC) to inform and improve Android Earthquake Alerts. Actively engaging with experts in the field and analyzing data after detected seismic events allows us to continuously improve the Android Earthquake Alerts System.

Stay safe with Android

Your safety is our priority, and we are continuously working to provide you with the tools and information you need to stay prepared during emergencies. We remain dedicated to collaborating with the earthquake community, emergency managers and device manufacturers to further advance earthquake alerts and response efforts.

Learn more about supported countries and how to enable Android Earthquake Alerts compatible devices. Keep a lookout for more information about the science and technology behind the Android Earthquake Alerts System in an upcoming paper.