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Public Feedback and Actions During EEW Alerts: Lessons From Central America

Description: 

After an eight-year effort through the ATTAC project, end-to-end public Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) systems, based on national seismic networks, are now operational across Central America. Public alerts were launched in the four countries between 2023 and 2024, today reaching approximately 300,000 users. The dissemination of alerts primarily occurs through mobile applications, developed for both Android and iOS devices. These apps deliver EEW alerts via critical push notifications based on Firebase Cloud Messaging, interrupting any ongoing activity or sleep mode on the device when shaking intensity reaches V on a Modified Mercalli Intensity scale at the user location. For the majority of users, app-related transmission delays are small, ranging from 1 to 4 seconds.

Understanding how users perceive and respond to EEW alerts is crucial for evaluating the system’s effectiveness. To gain insights, we collect user feedback on app performance following significant events. So far, we have data from four recent seismic events: a M5.4 earthquake in Costa Rica (October 2023), a M5.2 earthquake and a M6.5 earthquake in Guatemala (May 2024), and a M6.3 earthquake in El Salvador (January 2025). This research aims to assess the app's ability to support protective actions and determine its efficacy as well as its acceptance among the public. The survey, based on a modified questionnaire based on Goltz (2022), explored alert timeliness, comparison between predicted and observed ground motions, public acceptance of alert thresholds, perceived usefulness of alerts, and the protective actions taken by users.

The findings show strong support for EEW systems among users in the region. While a small proportion of users took active measures (e.g., evacuation or moving to a safe area inside the building), the majority remained in a state of alert and situational awareness (e.g., mentally braced myself for shaking). The low uptake of active measures may reflect the absence of guidelines, often due to conflicting messages from multiple agencies.

Session: Adventures in Social Seismology: Ethical Engagement, Earthquake Early Warnings, Operational Forecasts, and Beyond - II

Type: Oral

Date: 4/15/2025

Presentation Time: 11:15 AM (local time)

Presenting Author: Benazir

Student Presenter: Yes

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