Investigating Access and Barriers to Use of the San Diego Emergency App for ShakeAlert Through a Multi-Methods Approach

This project seeks to develop mutually beneficial relationships with limited-English proficiency (LEP) individuals and communities around the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning (EEW) system. LEP households have no member aged 14+ that speaks only English or speaks English ‘very well’. We are working with the San Diego County (SDC) Office of Emergency Services (OES) and their Partner Relay Communication Network around their cell phone app SD Emergency that delivers ShakeAlert-powered alerts. The goal is to improve app adoption rates and ShakeAlert EEW awareness with trusted, community-based organizations that serve LEP individuals. SD Emergency offers multi-hazard alerting (e.g., boil water notices, weather notifications), providing an opportunity to investigate influences on the likelihood of receiving an EEW alert, considering single modality apps have higher uninstall rates. Through broadly distributed surveys, we seek to understand app usage, potential barriers, understanding of EEW messaging, and anticipated responses to EEW that will improve public alerting through ShakeAlert.