Dear John,

If there’s anything we’ve learned from this pandemic and last year’s catastrophic wildfires, it’s the importance of trusting science and preparing for emergencies before they strike.

That’s why I’ve been using my position on the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure robust funding for the ShakeAlert early warning system, which could help save lives up and down the West Coast in the event of a major earthquake. I’m pleased to share that this year, $25.7 million in federal funding is headed to Oregon, Washington, and California to support the expansion of ShakeAlert. 

Earthquakes seem like they come out of the blue, and that’s sort of true. But sensitive equipment can detect the shaking coming, like seeing a wave rolling towards shore. ShakeAlert uses over 1,000 seismic sensors placed throughout the West Coast to detect and monitor tectonic activity, and starting today, can send alerts to Oregonians’ phones several minutes before we start feeling an earthquake so we can get outdoors or avoid being in particularly dangerous situations amid shaking. Those warnings will allow hospitals to power up their generators immediately after shaking stops; fire stations to open doors before electricity goes out so trucks aren’t trapped; and utility companies take precautions that can prevent drinking water from being contaminated in case disaster strikes. For instructions on how to enable the alerts on your phone, click here.

On behalf of all Oregonians, I thank all of the researchers, including those at the Oregon Hazards Lab at the University of Oregon who are working on the ShakeAlert system, for their dedication to help us stay safe. Whether it’s wildfires or The Big One, I will continue to listen to the science and fight for the resources our state needs to be resilient to natural disasters -- and I hope you’ll join me by doing your part to boost our communities’ earthquake preparedness, including by building an emergency kit and making an emergency plan.

All my best,
Jeff