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    1. Safety & Security

    L.A. Metro installs ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system on all bus and rail divisions

    Oct. 20, 2021
    The earthquake early warning system, ShakeAlert, is operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and detects earthquakes of magnitude 4.8 or greater.
    Related To: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
    L.A. Metro
    La Metro 1 6170363a9a9a1

    The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (L.A. Metro) and Early Warning Labs of Santa Monica have partnered to install a new earthquake early warning system on all bus and rail divisions.

    The earthquake early warning system, ShakeAlert, is operated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and detects earthquakes of magnitude 4.8 or greater. The system alerts agencies to help protect people, critical systems, equipment and infrastructure within seconds of the initial energy radiating from the epicenter, providing critical moments to prepare. By deploying ShakeAlert at 26 L.A. Metro facilities, employees could get an early alert before the shaking arrives, potentially helping them keep fellow employees and transit facilities safe.

    L.A. Metro’s deployment of ShakeAlert is believed to be the nation’s largest installations of the early warning system at a transit agency. During the Great ShakeOut, L.A. Metro will deliver test alerts to all locations with the warning, “Earthquake, earthquake, earthquake, shaking expected,” prompting operations staff to perform earthquake response procedures to secure people and property as if it was a real earthquake.

    L.A. Metro notes it is an early adopter of the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system. The agency partnered with the USGS as a beta tester in 2007. In 2016, L.A. Metro’s Emergency Management Department began a pilot project to install the system at its Rail Operations Center with private partner Early Warning Labs. That pilot went live in 2018. This week, the system expands to 25 additional locations. Next, L.A. Metro is working to install ShakeAlert in every bus and train on the L.A. Metro system, further enhancing the ability to protect riders in the event of an earthquake.