California Governor: Early Earthquake Alerts 'Can Save Lives'

California Governor Gavin Newsom celebrated the effectiveness of the state's early earthquake warning system, which successfully alerted more than a million people before a magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit Northern California on June 24. The system provided precious seconds for residents to react, with Newsom emphasizing its life-saving potential.

"Thanks to our early warning system, over a million people in Northern California received alerts on their mobile phones as the tremor began, giving them crucial seconds to drop, cover, and hold on," Newsom stated in a press release. The MyShake app, which delivers emergency notifications, allowed residents to "take life-saving actions," according to the governor. He encouraged all Californians to download the app and enable emergency alerts.

The earthquake, with an epicenter near Willits in the Mendocino Ridge, was felt across large areas of Northern California, including the San Francisco Bay Area and the Sacramento region, around 8:10 a.m. The U.S. Geological Survey also reported a preliminary magnitude 2.5 tremor in the same area about seven minutes later. The state administration also recommended residents explore programs like Earthquake Brace + Bolt for home retrofitting.

Since its inception, the MyShake app has issued over 6.8 million warnings for 194 earthquakes. Newsom's administration views the system as vital, stating, "It's not a matter of if the next earthquake will happen, but when." The app is available for download, providing timely notifications for seismic events.

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Thanks to our early warning system, over a million people in Northern California received alerts on their mobile phones as the tremor began, giving them crucial seconds to drop, cover, and hold on.