SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Today, Calif. Senator Isadore Hall, III (D – South Bay), Chair of the Senate Governmental Organization Committee, announced he will hold a joint informational hearing with the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee on the status of California’s earthquake early warning system.
The hearing, “California’s Earthquake Preparedness: Status of the Earthquake Early Warning System” will take place on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 beginning at 1:30 p.m. in room 4202 of the State Capitol and will feature state and national scientists along with seismic safety experts to discuss the scope and capacity of an effective earthquake early warning system.
Early warning systems are in place, or in the works, in a number of earthquake prone countries including Japan, Mexico, Turkey, Italy and China. The goal of California’s earthquake early warning system is to take advantage of the time lag between a quake’s initial, relatively mild shockwaves and the later ones that inflict the bulk of the damage. Development of such a warning system has the potential to saves thousands of lives and millions, if not billions of dollars. A fully developed warning system would provide Californians critical seconds to take cover, assist family and friends, or simply move away from hazards. Additionally, it could provide precious seconds to stop a train, power down critical infrastructure and speed the response of emergency personnel.
In 2013, the California Legislature passed and the Governor signed SB 135 (Padilla) which requires the Office of Emergency Services (OES), in collaboration with various entities, to develop a comprehensive statewide earthquake early warning system in California through a public-private partnership.
This hearing will include a general background discussion of earthquake early warning systems and testimony from the Director of OES, federal officials, representatives of the UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology, the wireless telecommunications industry, utility officials and private sector operators on the needs, challenges and opportunities of deploying an efficient, timely and effective earthquake early warning system in California.
Who: -Senator Isadore Hall, III (D – South Bay)
-Assemblymember Adam Gray (D – Merced)
-Senate & Assembly Governmental Organization Committee
-Mark Ghilarducci, Director, California Office of Emergency Services
-John G. Parrish, Ph.D., State Geologist, California Geological Survey
-Doug Given, Geologist, United States Geological Survey
-Richard Allen, Ph.D., Director, Berkeley Seismological Laboratory
-Thomas Heaton, Professor or Engineering Seismology, California Institute of Technology
-Scott Nebenzahl, Director of Government Affairs & Strategic Accounts, Seismic Warnings Systems, Inc.
-Steve Carlson, CA Governments Affairs Counsel, CTIA-The Wireless Association
-Peter White, Executive Director for Global Public Policy, AT&T
-Barry Anderson, Vice President, Emergency Preparedness and Response, PG&E
What: Joint Informational Hearing on, “California’s Earthquake Preparedness: Status of the Earthquake Early Warning System”
When: Wednesday, February 25, 2015, 1:30 PM
Where: State Capitol, Room 4202, Sacramento, CA
Isadore Hall, III, represents California’s 35th Senate District that includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Gardena, Harbor Gateway, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lennox, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, South Los Angeles, Torrance, Watts/Willowbrook and Wilmington.
