Community feedback (citizen science) initiative on Wireless Emergency Alert performance for ShakeAlert

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) Earthquake Early Warning Test Community Feedback (DRAFT)

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) Earthquake Early Warning Test - Community Feedback

Instructions: Have a time piece (phone, watch, clock) available or visible so you can record the time
stamp. You can use this link to for the correct time: https://www.time.gov
About the research: This research is to assist development of the West Coast Earthquake Early
Warning System that will send the public a ShakeAlert before they feel shaking from an earthquake
that has started. As part of the California Earthquake Early Warning system, we need to understand
how long it will take to get messages to your phone via wireless emergency alerts (WEA). If you
have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Sara McBride, ShakeAlert Social Science
Coordinator (skmcbride@usgs.gov) or Dr. Robert de Groot (rdegroot@usgs.gov), ShakeAlert
Coordinator for Communication, Education, and Outreach.
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et. seq.) requires us to inform you that this
information is being collected to promote public safety through better understanding of
earthquakes. Response to this request is voluntary. Public reporting for this form is estimated to
average X minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions an completing the
form. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Comments
regarding this collection of information should be directed to: Bureau Clearance officer, U.S.
Geological Survey, gs_info-collections@usgs.gov
1. What time did you receive the test ShakeAlert? Please provide exact time, including seconds. (Example:
8:30:01 AM, link here to the time: https://www.time.gov):

2. What was your location? (you can chose to report your zip code, physical address, suburb).

3. If you do not know your exact location, can you provide the closest identifiable landmark?

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4. What company is your cell phone network provider?
TMobile/Sprint

Spring

Verizon

GoogleFi

AT&T

Republic (Verizon)

Other (please specify)

5. What type of phone do you have? If you are not sure, you can find the model information under your
settings on your phone.

6. If you received a test ShakeAlert on your iWatch or similar watch device, was it the same time as when
you received a message on your phone?
Yes
No
Other (please specify)

7. If you received the test ShakeAlert on your tablet, was it the same time as when you received a
message on your phone?
Yes
No
Other (please specify)

8. Is your tablet device wifi or wifi plus enabled?

9. What is your phone's network speed? That information is usually found on the top left corner of your
screen.
3G
4G
4LTE

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10. Please rank your preferred channels for receiving a ShakeAlert:
Emergency broadcast on television or radio

An app on a smart phone (opt-in service)

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)

Sirens

Announcements at work

11. How much notice do you think ShakeAlert will provide you that shaking is coming?

12. Provide a brief explanation of what you think the Earthquake Early Warning system is?

13. If you received a ShakeAlert, given there is limited space to provide details, please rank what
information would be most important to you?
Earthquake has been detected near me

Expect shaking

What to do during an earthquake

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