The new MyShake earthquake warning app has successfully sent out its first alert during a small shaker.
The system, created by UC Berkeley seismology labs, sent out alerts on Tuesday to 41 users near Parkfield in the San Joaquin Valley during an earthquake there.
The earthquake was minor, registerring as 4.3 magnitude. There weren't any reports of damage.
However, Jennifer Strauss, who works on the quake alert system, said this was still a huge milestone.
“I would say for us it’s a big deal, and I hope for the people of the state of California it’s a big deal too, to know that this is out there,” Strauss said. “It’s doing what it was designed to do and it’s working as planned.”
MyShake works across the state to warn residents in the areas of impending earthquakes to brace themselves. The United States Geological Survey works with MyShake to send out its ShakeAlerts. Although the alert may only arrive seconds before the shaking, designers hope it's enough to give people a chance to find cover.
If the quake has already begun when a resident receives an alert, it could still be useful.
“It can also serve the purpose of, even if the shaking has already started, being that reaffirmation that ‘yes this is an earthquake’,” said Strauss. “‘Oh you’re telling me to drop, cover, hold on. Yes, that’s what I need to do’.”