ShakeAlert
ShakeAlert and the ALERT FM system - FAQ
Since October 2019, the USGS, the State of California and other partners are testing public alert deliveries, powered by the ShakeAlert® Earthquake Early Warning system, to wireless devices via the ALERT FM system.
What is ALERT FM?
ALERT FM is a system that broadcasts public safety messages over the commercial FM Radio broadcast system using Radio Data System (RDS). Customers with ALERT FM receivers can receive geographically targeted, text-like messages alerting them to threats to safety in their area. Messages are sent by alert authorities through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), ShakeAlert and other local/state authorized alert originators. All messages are validated before sending them to satellite connected FM radio transmitters for distribution to customers. IPAWS is used for all hazards including terrorist threats, severe weather, tsunamis, flash floods, AMBER alerts, and now, earthquakes.
More about ALERT FM on alertfm.com and access the ALERT FM receiver operating manual.
What does ALERT FM alert look and sound like?
All ALERT FM alerts, regardless of type, behave the same. The device makes a distinctive notification sound and the message pops up in a text window on the screen. ALERT FM supports English and Spanish language messages. Users may opt-out of receiving ALERT FM messages by disabling the receiver by unplugging or removing AA battery.
Currently all powered by ShakeAlert ALERT FM alerts adhere to a 90+-character limit... If you were to receive an alert for an actual earthquake this is what you would receive:
Earthquake Detected! Drop, Cover, Hold On. Protect Yourself. -USGS ShakeAlert
Terremoto detectado! Agachese, cubrase, sujetese. Protejase. -USGS ShakeAlert
Occasionally, there will be the need to perform a test of ShakeAlert powered ALERT FM.
This is what a test message looks like:
TEST of the Earthquake Alert System. No action needed.
TEST -USGS ShakeAlert
PRUEBA del sistema de alerta de terremotos. No se requiere accion.
PRUEBA -USGS ShakeAlert
How does RDS technology solve the current system deficiencies?
The Radio Data System (RDS) emergency alert technology modernizes a severely outdated method and virtually removes the opportunity for human error once the alert is activated. Whether it is an earthquake, a terrorist attack or a tornado, immediate notification is vital. The RDS technology is superior in its reliability and speed.
In emergencies, seconds matter. An emergency alert, delivered reliably and immediately, can save lives if the information is received rapidly enough for those affected to be able to take action.
What is RDS and how does the new system utilize that technology?
RDS is the Radio Data System. It is a technology familiar to almost every U.S. citizen since it is the technology commonly utilized to provide the name of the radio station, name of the song playing and artist performing to the consumer’s dashboard in their automobile. It can easily be adapted to provide emergency notifications with minimal modifications.
How can this new technology deliver the messages so quickly?
The simple answer is redundancy and satellite delivery direct to individual FM transmitters in the United States. Every message is delivered via satellite directly to the affected FM radio station’s transmitter, and the message is immediately communicated to the public. Because of the numerous FM radio signals a consumer can receive, there is a high level of redundancy.
This method does not depend on Internet or cellular networks for message delivery. Instead, it is based on satellite-delivered messaging. As a result, the system avoids the inherent issues associated with those technologies when high activity causes network congestion and delay.
The RDS direct notification and distribution method delivers the emergency warning to the recipient in less than five seconds from the moment the alert is issued. In addition, this system has also been designed to allow the automatic activation of other warning devices. This critical step removes human delays or human errors in the delivery process.
How reliable is this technology?
RDS technology is extremely stable, dependable and proven. This solution utilizes the RDS technology that has been deployed and proven in the broadcast community for over two decades. In fact, this alert technology is now deployed and providing emergency information to residents in portions of 17 states.
Every FM radio station in America has the capacity to utilize this technology and transmit these alerts. As a result, there is an obvious and valuable duplication of signals available to every resident.
The stability of this proven technology and the duplication of signals transmitting these emergency alerts will provide unmatched reliability in times of emergencies and disasters.
How will consumers receive these emergency messages?
At present, consumers and employers receive these alerts via portable and fixed position receivers and through emergency notifications generated by participating broadcast station’s RDS delivery system.
As the system is deployed nationally, consumers will be able to access this emergency alert information through their home radios, telephones, automobiles, handheld devices or any other devices equipped with RDS receiving capability.
Will a new RDS emergency notification system require new spectrum allocation?
This technology will not require any additional spectrum or bandwidth than what is already allocated to every broadcast facility in America. In an era where there is an increasing demand for precious spectrum resources, this system enables a more efficient and higher use of already allocated bandwidth.
Will this technology require a massive infrastructure build?
The RDS emergency notification system is deployed via the footprint of America’s already existing radio broadcasters. This is the most significant benefit of this proposed system, that is, the utilization of an already built and established national delivery platform.
Building a national footprint covering virtually every resident of the United States is cost prohibitive. Thousands of towers, transmission lines, antennas, transmitters, receivers and repeaters would cost a staggering amount estimated at over half a trillion dollars.
Who controls the alert messaging and how secure is the system?
The same secure protocols that are being utilized for the present-day Emergency Alert System have already been adapted for use by the Alert FM RDS delivery method. Those protocols place the control of the alerting technology in the hands of local, state and national officials for notifications regarding disasters or emergencies.
As a result, the RDS delivery method can be activated for events ranging from a missing child on the local level to a national emergency from the Oval Office. Regardless of the origination, each message is still delivered within 5 seconds via a redundant system to affected citizens.
What governmental agencies will benefit the most from this new system?
It is impossible to quantify which agencies would benefit the most from this flexible, secure and immediate notification system. However, it is easy to imagine the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Authority having extensive and broad applications for their disaster responsibilities. Additionally, NOAA and the National Geological Survey would have the ability to transmit immediate information to citizens regarding weather emergencies and earthquake warnings.
Other beneficiaries of this technology include local government officials needing to communicate to their citizens before, during and after disasters. Alert FM communications continue even if an evacuee of the disaster area temporarily relocates to a distant city or state, they are able to continue receiving information for their home area.
The USGS is committed to the delivery of ShakeAlert public earthquake alerts through all available means. The ALERT FM system plays a role in delivering alerts to the public because it can reach difficult areas to cover when power and cell phones are disrupted. In addition, the message is received in less than 5 seconds. This is why ALERT FM was built and why it is used to deliver National Weather Service warnings and AMBER Alerts. ALERT FM uses FM radio broadcast technology, which scales to millions of California residents that will be affected by a significant earthquake.
Today, smartphone apps receive notifications using push-notification technology. This method has a large capacity but becomes less efficient as the number of recipients grows. Sending a burst of push-notifications to a large number of users may flood the cell data system causing messages to be delayed or lost. ALERT FM is optimized to send a single message to many people as quickly as possible without overwhelming the bandwidth of the cellular system. What is the current status of ShakeAlert-powered alert delivery by ALERT FM?
The ALERT FM system is now delivering alerts to people in California for earthquakes that fit a certain profile. Currently, the time required to deliver alerts by ALERT FM is less than 5 seconds. You may not receive an ALERT FM alert if you are outside the alerted area, there are reception issues, or you have opted out of receiving alerts. The USGS and ALERT FM are working together to improve the delivery of alerts and the coverage area throughout California and soon to Oregon and Washington.
What factors are in effect when I get an alert from ALERT FM or any other source?
Some alert delivery methods are faster than others. No matter how you receive an alert (for example, on your ALERT FM receiver, phone or over a public address system), it might arrive before, during or after shaking reaches your location, depending on your distance from the quake and how you receive the alert. For every earthquake there is a zone near the epicenter where people will experience shaking before an alert can be delivered because of the time it takes to detect the earthquake, produce the alert and deliver it. Remember, no matter how the alert is delivered there will be people who will receive the alert during or after shaking arrives at their location. If you feel shaking, that should be your prompt to take a protective action like Drop, Cover and Hold On. Don’t wait for an alert.
What’s the difference between ALERT FM and text messages?
A variety of technologies are used to send and receive text messages. These methods deliver messages to individuals and are inefficient for delivering a single message to many people. ALERT FM is a different technology called cell broadcast that was designed by cellular companies for mass notification. It is optimized to send a single message to many people as quickly as possible without overwhelming the bandwidth of the cellular system.
What’s the difference between ALERT FM and an alert from other Apps?
Smartphone Apps receive notifications using push-notification technology. This method has a large capacity but becomes less efficient as the number of recipients grows. Sending a burst of push-notifications to a large number of users may flood the cell data system causing messages to be delayed or lost. ALERT FM is a different technology called cell broadcast that was designed by cellular companies for mass notification. It is optimized to send a single message to many people as quickly as possible without overwhelming the bandwidth of the cellular system.
What can I expect from ALERT FM now?
ALERT FM alerts are currently being delivered to people who could feel light shaking or greater for earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or greater. Initial tests of the ALERT FM system by USGS and its partners have demonstrated that ALERT FM delivery times can vary significantly depending on your carrier and the age and type of phone you have. In some cases, ALERT FM can be fast enough to deliver alerts to at least some people before they experience strong to severe shaking at significant distances (>40 miles) from the epicenter in large (magnitude 7+) earthquakes. For people near the epicenter alerts will usually arrive after the shaking has been felt or even after is has ceased. This is particularly true for events in the magnitude 5-6 range, where strong shaking only occurs in a small area close to the epicenter. Also, the magnitude estimates made in the first few seconds are not as accurate as the final estimates, so sometimes you will get an alert for an earthquake that is smaller than magnitude 5.0. You may not receive an ALERT FM alert if you are outside the alerted area, there are reception issues, or you have opted out of receiving alerts.
What’s next for ShakeAlert use of ALERT FM?
Use of ALERT FM for distribution of Powered by ShakeAlert alerts in California is currently in test mode, to enable us to improve the performance of ALERT FM alerting over time. Understanding the extent to which ALERT FM can be a useful delivery mechanism for smaller earthquakes (especially those in the magnitude 5-6 range) is a topic of intense research and testing by the USGS and its university partners. The alerts that arrive after strong shaking has already occurred are part of this testing. The ALERT FM system may become faster in the future and the criteria for delivering ALERT FM alerts may change as the ShakeAlert system is improved. The ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System is an important tool in our earthquake risk reduction toolbox, and it will improve over time.
Criteria
ShakeAlert technical partners should meet the following criteria:
Alerts and actions must be fast enough to be effective. Delays of more than 5 seconds will significantly reduce the value of the alerts.
All technical partners must adhere to USGS mandated alerting thresholds.
Automated actions
must be tolerant of system errors including false, missed, or late alerts and incorrect intensity estimates.
Human alerting
general public notification via Apps to Wireless Devices is only authorized when the magnitude is 4.5 and larger and to areas expected to experience shaking of MMI 3 (weak shaking) or greater.
people receiving alerts should be trained in how to respond to alerts and understand the limitations of the ShakeAlert system.
all messaging, education, and training for prompting people to take a protective action must align with ShakeAlert guidelines.
The ShakeAlert system provides earthquake notification and data streams using internet-based services. The USGS will provide API and data format documentation intended for developers who have a ShakeAlert Pilot Agreement on file. The USGS will also provide password protected access to a ShakeAlert test service (aka Scenario Server) and live streams from the ShakeAlert alert server. The ability of the USGS to provide technical support is very limited.
ShakeAlert is a cooperative project between the USGS, state agencies, and university partners including the University of Washington, the University of Oregon, the University of California, Berkeley, and the California Institute of Technology. We encourage collaboration among all interested parties including Evaluation Users, Pilot Users, LtOs, universities, and government entities.
Credit for ShakeAlert graphics: U.S. Geological Survey Department of the Interior/USGS