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Thanks Brian! The USGS issues ShakeAlerts for M3.5+ earthquakes across the West Coast system. But this event didn’t meet the minimum delivery threshold for apps or the

@FEMA

WEA system. earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/ev (1/3)

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Brian Olson

@mrbrianolson

Dec 21, 2019

Confirmed #ShakeAlert for a little M3.9 earthquake east of Ridgecrest tonight. Did anyone of my tweeps in Ridgecrest get the alert? @USGS_ShakeAlert

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It would probably be awesome to allow the user to configure a smaller setting if they wanted while keeping a max setting bound. There could be use cases where people would want to know about smaller earthquakes (construction workers near sensitive job sites, etc.)

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For instance, if a construction crew were digging a trench and were just putting up shoring, a smaller earthquake might be just enough to destabilize the trench -- so setting a lower alert level might save lives in that situation.

9:38 PM · Dec 21, 2019Twitter Web App

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Thanks Jason - that's a great point. However getting alerts through wireless devices is only one of the pathways for alerts to be delivered. Many #ShakeAlert technical partners are developing automated systems that will address the needs for those you mention.

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Also, we've learned from several of our #ShakeAlert partners who work in the environments you mention (e.g. utilities) don't even allow their crews to carry their cell phones with them. Hence, we are working on many other pathways to get the info out.

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