Gov. Brown OKs Plan for Earthquake Early Warning System

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation to develop a statewide earthquake early warning system in California, after devoting $10 million to the program in the state budget he signed this year.

Brown announced Thursday that he signed SB 438 by state Sen. Jerry Hill, a Democrat from San Mateo.

The legislation sets up the early warning program, called "ShakeAlert."

"It will help save lives and really protect the public before tremblors can strike. Before you get the shaking at your location, you’ll get a warning," Hill told KQED's Peter Jon Shuler.

Seismic early warning systems are designed to detect the first shock waves from a large jolt, calculate the strength and alert people before the slower but damaging waves spread. Mexico, China and Japan are among the countries already using them.

Ultimately, scientists plan to develop apps for mobile phones and computers that would give the public the early alerts.

The bill establishes a special advisory board within the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to coordinate work already going on and shepherd the project to completion. It also lifts a ban on using funds in the state's general fund to finance the sensors, infrastructure and public education necessary to make the system work.

California officials will submit a plan to the state Legislature by February 2018.

Hill said the system could be in operation within the next two to three years.

KQED's Peter Jon Shuler and the Associated Press contributed to this report.