Earthquake bulletin board how to#
Earthquake bulletin board series#

Other nations, such as New Zealand ( Becker et al., 2020), are beginning to consider how they might use EEW systems. However, smaller scale systems deliver alerts to specific end users in Turkey, China, and Romania ( Strauss and Allen, 2016 Figure 1). EEW systems vary in their availability to different end users some such as those in Mexico City, Japan, and the U.S.-based ShakeAlert system produce some public alerting (Figure 1). EEW entails the delivery of ground-shaking alerts or warnings to technical systems as well as to the public. This is especially true in places with poor land use planning and construction practices, weak building codes and standards, and otherwise aged or fragile building stock ( Seaman et al., 1984 Alexander, 1985).Īs a response, earthquake early warning (EEW) systems have been developed as a way to alert the public to pending ground shaking from an earthquake, to help protect infrastructure, save lives, and reduce the number of injuries. Even smaller magnitude earthquakes (M4.5+) can produce enough significant shaking such that damage can occur ( Minson et al., 2021).

Earthquake bulletin board series#

Consistency in collecting and reporting injury data globally may assist in aligning this fragmented literature to develop a richer understanding of how demographic, cultural, seismic, engineering, and technological issues can be addressed to reduce human suffering due to earthquakes.Įarthquakes pose special risks to life safety because they are unpredictable, can occur in a sequence or series (e.g., a mainshock with hundreds to thousands of aftershocks, earthquake doublets, etc.), and are temporally and spatially variant events that can range in intensity ( Mulargia and Geller, 2003).

In addition to synthesizing relevant literature, we recommend pathways forward for this interdisciplinary research community that explores EEW and its application around the world. system, ShakeAlert, because it provides a timely case study for understanding how people receive and respond to EEW messages. Although we examine data from around the world, we focus largely on evidence-based recommendations for the U.S. Factors that emerge from relevant literature include: (1) social, cultural, and environmental context, such as which people are present, what their social roles are, and in what type of building they are located when an earthquake happens, (2) demographic and experiential variables, such as gender and age as well as previous history with earthquakes and (3) magnitude and intensity that influence the duration and impacts of the earthquake itself. We have reviewed earthquake injury reports, protective action and communication theories, and behavioral research to determine what factors can guide inquiry and decision making when developing protective action guidelines. However, many factors need to be considered when developing contextually relevant and appropriate recommendations.

Earthquake bulletin board how to#

As these systems develop, it is important to provide evidence-based recommendations for protective action so people know how to protect themselves when they receive an alert. Earthquake early warning (EEW) systems are becoming increasingly available or are in development throughout the world.