In the event of an earthquake of a magnitude of 4.5 or greater, it will alert you.
Google is bringing Android Earthquake Alerts to the entirety of the United States of America as well as six regions. When it was originally introduced in the year 2020, the feature made use of the ShakeAlert system developed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to send out warnings in the states of California, Washington, and Oregon. In order to provide early warnings, the expansion will make use of accelerometers, which are devices that detect vibrations, that are already present in Android phones.
After then, the Android Earthquake Alerts System will examine the data that was gathered from the general public in order to decide whether or not it is an earthquake. In the event that the earthquake occurs at a magnitude of 4.5 or above, you will receive either a “Be Aware” or “Take Action” notice. You are cautioned by the first that there is some light shaking, but that there is a possibility of more intense shaking. In the event that moderate or extreme shaking is anticipated, the Take Action command instructs individuals to immediately seek protection. After the earthquake has passed, the system will also provide instructions on how to proceed with the situation.
For the purpose of enhancing its Android Earthquake Alerts System, Google collaborated with some of the most prominent experts in the subject of earthquakes. “Earthquake alerts on your device reduce milling and the verification pause that often occurs during crises,” said Dr. Jeannette Sutton, a professor at the University at Albany who specializes in disasters, risk, and public alerts. “During these times, people lose valuable time seeking confirmation from sources that are not reliable.” “Expanding this system enhances public safety during earthquakes by providing crucial information to even more users.”
Alongside the release of the Earthquake Alerts, Google is also introducing a number of new features, one of which is the ability to access offline Maps on your Wear OS wearable. You will now be able to access maps that you have downloaded into your phone directly on your watch thanks to the update. You can also utilize Circle to Search to locate music that is being played on social media platforms or speakers in your immediate vicinity.