Rep. Schiff and 25 West Coast Members Urge Funding to Construct Earthquake Early Warning System

Press Release

Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) was joined by 25 Members from California, Washington and Oregon in sending a letter to the Appropriations Committee urging them to fully fund an earthquake early warning system. A limited system developed by Caltech, UC-Berkeley and University of Washington, in conjunction with the United State Geological Survey (USGS), has already been deployed and has proven that the early warning technology is sound. Schiff's letter requests additional funding for the Earthquake Hazards Program in USGS to kickstart the process of building out the early warning system so we can be ready for the next big quake.

It is estimated that deploying a full system of sensors along the West Coast would cost approximately $16.1 million a year to build, operate and maintain. Schiff was joined by Representatives Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), Peter A. DeFazio (D-OR), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), Janice Hahn (D-CA), Sam Farr (D-CA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Alan S. Lowenthal (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Adam Smith (D-WA) and Michael Honda (D-CA).

"Every few months, we're reminded about our vulnerability with tremors, earthquakes and aftershocks rattling our homes and businesses," said Schiff. "It's absolutely critical that the U.S., and the West Coast in particular, invest in an early warning system so that lives can be saved and infrastructure can be protected. Even a few seconds of warning before the next "big one' will allow people to seek cover, automatically slow or stop trains, pause surgeries and more -- and the benefits of this small investment now will be paid back many times over after the first damaging quake."

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