Google is shaking things up: Android expands earthquake alerts to all U.S. states
Android users across the United States now have access to early earthquake warnings, as the Android Earthquake Alerts System expands to cover all 50 states and six U.S. territories. This system, which has been instrumental in providing life-saving alerts in California, Oregon, and Washington, is being rolled out nationwide, with the deployment set to be completed in the coming weeks. This expansion ensures that millions more people are prepared when an earthquake strikes.
Since its launch in 2020, the Android Earthquake Alerts System has relied on partnerships with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), and the ShakeAlert system to deliver accurate and timely alerts based on data from traditional seismometers. To extend these early warnings to areas without the USGS ShakeAlert system, Android phones themselves have been turned into mini seismometers.