ShakeAlert Ready Outdoors offers earthquake preparedness and early warning information to help keep people safe when they are enjoying parks and other free-choice learning environments, such as libraries, museums, arboretums, etc. Multimedia resources empower park staff—serving as ShakeAlert safety ambassadors—with valuable information they can share with visitors to help them prepare if they feel shaking or get an alert. ShakeAlert Ready Outdoors works in close collaboration with the EPIcenter Partnership.
The West Coast of the United States is “earthquake country,” where over 50 million people are at risk of earthquake hazards. Our national, state, and local parks offer visitors stunning vistas and terrain that is shaped by geologic forces, including earthquakes. Because earthquakes cannot be predicted and can happen at any time, it is important for park staff and visitors to know how to protect themselves if they feel shaking, get an alert, or notice signs in nature that suggest shaking may be approaching.
Protective Actions for Tourists
People traveling in earthquake country should maintain situational awareness and take immediate protective action if they feel shaking or get an alert. This infographic depicts different places where travelers may experience an earthquake and the recommended protective actions to be ShakeAlert safe!
*The following infographic depicts several possible scenarios and protective actions, including people in cars in park environments, inside visitor centers, sleeping in cabins or campgrounds, and near coastal waters.
How Can People Get Alerts?
One of the best and easiest ways people can be earthquake-prepared is to ensure they can get ShakeAlert-powered alerts on their cell phones. More information to be ShakeAlert safe can be found here.
What if There is No Cell Service Outdoors?
Some outdoors environments may have unreliable or no cell service. That’s why it’s important to immediately take a protective action if you feel shaking but may not get an alert on your cell phone.
It’s also important to know the signs in nature that may suggest shaking may be approaching.
ShakeAlert Ready Outdoors resources will continue to expand to meet users’ needs across a variety of additional parks and other outdoor environments. These resources can be shared digitally on partner websites/visitor center digital kiosks, in social media posts, and printed for distribution and sharing with visitors.
About the Quick Reference Guide
The ShakeAlert Ready Outdoors Quick Reference Guide offers high-level earthquake safety messaging in an abbreviated format and links to more in-depth information.
Designed for park and other free-choice learning environment (FCLE) staff and other ShakeAlert messengers, the ShakeAlert Ready Outdoors Resource Toolkit (including a Manual, Quick-Reference Guide, digital, and print-ready resources) is a curated collection of user-friendly resources to inform and inspire visitors/patrons to be earthquake-safe outdoors. Included are resource collections for 1-to-5-minute, 15-minute, and 30-minute engagements to suit a variety of messaging and learning environments and opportunities. Resources can be shared digitally and/or be printed for distribution and sharing with visitors. This collection is expected to evolve and expand!
This double-sided digital and print-ready postcard provides information about how to ensure cell phone settings are alert-enabled, and how to access other alerting apps. An infographic depicts protective actions and a QR code to more information is provided.
These resources help outdoor visitors recognize natural signs that may suggest shaking is approaching, especially in areas where cell service may be unavailable or unreliable.
Know the Signs Poster
Full-color poster for digital distribution or print use. It highlights signs in nature that may indicate shaking is approaching.
This collection of double-sided one-pagers offers static information about the ShakeAlert EEW System, park-specific geologic context and regional earthquake risks, and safety information. The latter includes how to get alerts on cell phones, as well as protective actions to take if someone feels shaking, gets an alert, or notices signs in nature that signal shaking may be approaching. Fact sheets feature parks in California, Oregon, and Washington that reflect regional earthquake risks in varying environments. This collection will continue to expand!
This is a full-color, 8.5”x11”, foldable brochure that describes the ShakeAlert Ready Outdoors public safety initiative and is for general information uses. It can be handed out, placed in a brochure rack, or easily mailed in a #10 business envelope.
The “Photocopier-Ready” version is ideal for quick output of a few copies from an office photocopier.
The “Printshop-Ready” version is typically meant for large quantities that are output by a print shop.
It includes full bleeds (where color goes to the very edge of the document).
The Core Messages document contains the foundational information for consistent messaging all “ShakeAlert ambassadors” should use. It is updated periodically; check back regularly.
There is a wide variety of digital, print-ready, short video, social media-ready collateral available on ShakeAlert.org suitable for all ages. Younger audiences can benefit from content in ShakeAlert Ready Schools curriculum and to multilingual Rocket Rules resources.
Contact
For more information about ShakeAlert Ready Outdoors or integrating ShakeAlert-powered technology in outdoors and other free-choice learning environments, contact:
Robert-Michael de Groot, PhD USGS Coordinator for Communication, Education, Outreach, and Technical Engagement ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System rdegroot@usgs.gov or by phone at 626-372-3262
This is a full-color, 8.5”x11”, foldable brochure that describes the ShakeAlert Ready Outdoors public safety initiative and is for general information uses. It can be handed out, placed in a brochure rack, or easily mailed in a #10 business envelope.
This collection of graphics and images can be useful when messaging to visitors in person, on websites, or on social channels.
The Core Messages document contains the foundational information for consistent messaging all “ShakeAlert ambassadors” should use. It is updated periodically; check back regularly.