Quake Alarm: A Must for Your Earthquake Survival Kit

Earthquakes are one of the deadliest forms of natural disaster in part because they are impossible to predict. Recently, however, new technologies have been developed, including quake alarms for the home, that can provide a precious few seconds of warning that a significant earthquake has begun to occur.

Japan, which has led the way in earthquake preparedness, implemented the world's most sophisticated earthquake early warning system in 2007. When the country was struck by a devastating 9.0 earthquake earlier this year, the system sent out warnings via radio, television and mobile systems, and triggered trains and elevators to stop. The warnings arrived less than a minute before the full force of the earthquake struck, but authorities say that was enough time to save many lives.

Japan's early warning system works by detecting P waves that emanate from the epicenter of earthquakes. P waves are nondestructive and travel faster than the S waves that cause most earthquake damage. The amount of advance warning provided by a P wave detector depends on how far one is from the epicenter of the quake.

A system similar to the one in Japan is currently being developed in California. Deployment is still several years away, but seismologists say that it could give Southern Californians as much as 60 seconds warning of a major quake along the San Andreas Fault.

Several companies have developed P wave earthquake alarms for the home. Quake Alarm, available from More Prepared, is similar to a smoke alarm. It is battery-operated, mounts to a wall and emits an ear-piercing alarm when it senses an earthquake is imminent. The device, which recently won an ARTI Award from American Rescue Team International, is credited with saving lives during recent earthquakes in Chile and Mexico.

Hopefully one day scientists will have the ability to accurately predict where and when earthquakes will occur. Until then, a device such as Quake Alarm may be a wise addition to a home earthquake kit. It could provide a crucial few seconds of warning in the event of a major disaster.