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California enhances MyShake app with new features, expands reach

SACRAMENTO – Building upon the success of California’s first-in-the-nation earthquake alert system, Governor Gavin Newsom has announced new functionality within the MyShake app to better serve Californians and keep surrounding communities safe.

HomeBase update

The MyShake app, funded by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and developed by the UC Berkeley Seismology Lab, has launched its newest enhancement called HomeBase.

It allows users to set a default location where they can receive earthquake early warning alerts, even if location services are temporarily down or turned off. This will increase MyShake’s ability to send timely alerts so that Californians affected by an earthquake can receive a warning for a location of their choosing and be prepared for shaking.

To activate the HomeBase function, users should update their MyShake app and navigate to the Settings page, where they will find an “Add HomeBase Location” button.

Tone warning and tsunami feature

Other new features on the app include an audible tone before the verbal warning, which can be accessed by checking the audio and visual alerts in the Settings > Notification page.

Tsunami safety information has also been added to the Safety Pages to remind people near the coast what steps they can take before, during, and after an earthquake to protect them from tsunamis. This update is timely given the recently occurred Tsunami Advisory that occurred along the entire west coast due to a volcanic eruption near the Tonga Islands.

Additional funding

These new functionalities are important especially since Governor Newsom has proposed $17.1 million to enhance support of the California Early Warning Program in the 2022-23 State Budget – the California Blueprint.

California’s MyShake App expanding to Oregon and Washington

In addition, due to the success of MyShake, California is expanding its earthquake early warning system to two states. In partnership with the Oregon Office of Emergency Management and the Washington Emergency Management Division, the app is now available for people who live, work or visit Oregon and Washington.

For those who want to keep location services off due to privacy concerns, Californians can still receive alerts now through the HomeBase feature. No personally identifiable information is used or stored by MyShake.

The HomeBase feature differs from a function already in the app where users can receive earthquake notifications for other locations, even in other countries. For example, if users want to receive notifications for earthquakes that occur where family or friends live, they can add those locations under Settings > Notifications.

 

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