'We Hear You': Los Angeles To Lower Shake Alert App Threshold Following M6.4 Earthquake
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — The City of Los Angeles announced they would lower the threshold on the current Shake Alert L.A. App following a magnitude 6.4 earthquake rattled the city.
Residents across the southland were concerned when they did not receive a Shake Alert for the powerful earthquake that struck Ridgecrest Thursday.
USGS Shake Alert put out a tweet clarifying why Los Angeles residents were not alerted on their app saying, "The @LACity #ShakeAlertLA app sends USGS ShakeAlerts to people in @CountyofLA at M5.0+ for areas that could experience potentially damaging shaking."
The @LACity #ShakeAlertLA app sends USGS ShakeAlerts to people in @CountyofLA at M5.0+ for areas that could experience potentially damaging shaking. Estimated shaking for @CountyofLA was non-damaging and #ShakeAlertLA performed as designed during today's M6.4 earthquake.
— USGS ShakeAlert (@USGS_ShakeAlert) July 4, 2019
The City of Los Angeles explained that the app only alerts when the shaking is over M5.0 in L.A. County, and the shaking in L.A. on Thursday registered at M4.5.
The #ShakeAlertLA app only sends alerts if shaking is 5.0+ in LA County. Epicenter was 6.4 in Kern County, @USGS confirms LA's shaking was below 4.5. We hear you and will lower the alert threshold with @USGS_ShakeAlert
— City of Los Angeles (@LACity) July 4, 2019
Following the quake, the City of Los Angeles announced they would be lowering the alert threshold with the USGS Shake Alert.