"California's Earthquake Preparedness: Testing Alerts and Tools for the Big One"

The MyShake app, developed by UC Berkeley seismologists, is conducting a test alert to simulate an earthquake warning system. The app collects data from the US Geological Services ShakeAlert system and sends alerts to phones in areas where shaking is predicted. Users who are far from the epicenter will receive the alert a few seconds before the shaking intensifies, allowing them to take protective action. If users don't receive the test alert, it may be due to disabled alerts or location services. The app also collects user experience reports and motion data for research purposes. The goal of the test alert is to encourage earthquake preparedness and practice safety measures.