Fund quake-warning system
In his proposed federal budget for fiscal year 2018, President Trump claims the defining ambition of his plan is to unleash the dreams and power of American work and creativity by reprioritizing spending to advance safety and security that will spur economic growth. It makes no sense then that his plan eliminates funding for the development of the Earthquake Early Warning System. This would be extremely shortsighted.
An effective earthquake early-warning and notification system is vital to advancing safety and security along the West Coast. As emergency managers, we dream of a fully functioning alert-and-notification system embedded in schools, hospitals, fire stations, utilities and other critical facilities. We should not delay protecting our children: We must expedite our efforts to develop technology tied to earthquake early warnings that mitigate the risk of fires, which could turn into major conflagrations that could engulf neighborhoods.
Federal investments in a robust system will continue to stimulate economic growth, as applications and services able to quickly translate and integrate alerts into protective and preventive measures are commercialized.
Today, the system — even in its nascent stages — successfully can detect and notify users of an impending earthquake. During the 2014 Napa earthquake, testing stations on BART and in San Francisco received eight to nine seconds warning. In a repeat of the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, 15 seconds warning would be given to Seattle or Portland, Ore., and much more for a repeat of the great Cascadia earthquake.
System developers are on the cusp of launching the first public rollout in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and the Seattle/Tacoma area within the next year. Therefore, after finalizing agreements with local jurisdictions, warning systems would be in place to notify emergency responders of an impending tremor. Fire stations would be provided those indispensable seconds critical to rolling up doors, ensuring life-saving resources aren’t trapped. Rail systems will have time to slow or stop trains decreasing the risk of derailment. Schoolchildren and faculty would have time to drop, cover and hold on before the earth starts shaking.
According to Bay Area Earthquake Plan prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the California Office of Emergency Services, the Bay Area could see almost 223,000 casualties, including more than 2,500 fatalities, with a magnitude 7.8 earthquake along the San Andreas Fault. The Earthquake Early Warning System will save lives by enabling systems to take automated action and people to take protective action to keep out of harm’s way. In the future, as developers work with the telecommunications industry, the technology will be available for people to receive as notifications on their mobile devices.
After years of research, testing and advocacy, eliminating this program would deny our communities the advances and benefits of the protection of life and property. Reckless abandonment of this effort as we near the launch of a system along the West Coast would be a reversal of our ingenuity and lifesaving innovations.
The Earthquake Early Warning System needs scientists, engineers and technicians to maintain it. Another $16 million above the program’s current budget is needed annually to operate the system. Such an investment drives the evolution of the technology. This will buy more time before a crisis, put people to work, and ultimately serves our goal of saving lives and protecting property.
The public should demand investment in the Earthquake Early Warning System and urge the Trump administration and Congress not to abandon this critical investment. Show your support by writing, emailing, or tweeting your congressional representative (www.house.gov/ representatives/find).
The engineers, scientists and technicians have spent years developing the system with whatever support and funding they could cobble together. Now, they need your support as they make their case to the White House and Congress.