Building Effective Earthquake Warning Systems
August 20, 2024
As evidenced during recent temblors in California, technologists are increasingly able to issue early earthquake warnings in hope of providing area residents with at least a few seconds to prepare. But Elizabeth Reddy argues in Issues that focusing on the technology underpinning earthquake alerts will not be enough. Early warning must be integrated into institutional and social infrastructure. Toward this aim, she writes, governments can reduce vulnerability and support resilience by hardening infrastructure, enforcing regulations on building construction, involving the community in decisionmaking, financially supporting people in need, and providing reliable system funding.