California Quake Warning System Could Send Alerts By 2018

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown will seek state funds to help establish a system that issues warnings that an earthquake is occurring - with an eye on rolling out limited alerts by 2018.

The Los Angeles Times reports Monday that the governor will ask the Legislature to allocate $10 million toward the early warning system being developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and university researchers.

The decision is a reversal for Brown. He has supported creation of the system but previously argued that the money should come from only private and federal sources.

Rep. Adam Schiff, who has championed the system, praised Brown's decision.

California trails Japan, Mexico and other earthquake-prone areas in developing a public alert system, which ideally would provide several seconds of warning after a fault ruptures.