An estimated magnitude 4.2 earthquake was recorded Friday in a rural area along Oklahoma s border with Kansas, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Early Quake Warning App Soon Available in Northwest | Oregon, Washington Coast
Published 02/17/21 at 4:46 PM PDT
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff
(Portland, Oregon) – A new app that will send out earlier warnings about earthquakes along the west coast will soon be available to users in Oregon and Washington, allowing for a better heads-up to those on the beaches of the Oregon and Washington coast. (Above: Yachats)
It’s called ShakeAlert®, and it’s currently already in use by the public in California. Oregon’s turn comes March 11 when ShakeAlert® will be downloadable in that state. Washington will follow in May.
Early Warning Earthquake System In Place
New technology is in place that alerts the public of a potential earthquake. ShakeAlert, an earthquake early warning system powered by the U.S. Geological Survey,
uses science and technology to detect significant earthquakes quickly so alerts can reach people before shaking arrives.
“These seconds of advance warning allow people and systems to take actions to protect life and property from destructive shaking,” according to a Oregon Office of Emergency Management news release. “It is already in place along most of the West Coast and operational for key infrastructure systems such as automatic water valve shutoffs and starting back-up generators.”