How to Configure Earthquake Alerts
QuakeFeed features two types of earthquake alerts: Nearby and Regional. Nearby alerts are based on the location of your device while Regional alerts follow Country or State boundaries.
- How to Access the Configure Alerts Tool
- Regional Alerts
- Nearby Alerts
- Other Notifications
- Alert Sounds
How to Access the Configure Alerts Tool
Locate the Tool Bar at the bottom of the screen in QuakeFeed (iPhone version) or in the lower left corner below the earthquake list (iPad version).
Tap the first button on the left of Tool Bar to access the Alert Settings screen.
Regional Alerts
While on the Alert Settings screen, tap on Regional Alerts to view and edit your Regional Alert settings.
Regional alerts are defined by either a country or US state boundary. There are also several predefined regions. (For example, Lower 48, California - Southern, or Cascadia Subduction Zone.)
The default setting for Regional Alerts is Worldwide M6+, meaning that you will receive alerts for all earthquakes with magnitude 6.0 or greater anywhere in the world. You can customize this Worldwide setting and/or add other Regional Alert settings. You may configure up to ten different Regional Alerts .
Add a new Regional Alert: Tap Add Regional Alert. The UI will step you through the process of searching / selecting a region, setting the data feed, and minimum magnitude.
Edit an existing Regional Alert: Tap on the alert, then tap on the setting(s) you would like to change. When you are done, tap Save in the top right corner.
Delete a Regional Alert: Tap Edit in the top right corner of the Alert Settings screen, then tap the red circle to the left of the alert to be deleted, then tap Delete. When you are done, tap Done in the top right corner.
Nearby Alerts
Nearby Alerts inform you when an earthquake has occurred within a 50, 100, or 150-mile radius of your last known location. The thresholds for how Nearby Alerts are triggered are as follows:
-Within 50 miles for M3.0 or higher
-Within 100 miles for M4.0 or higher
-Within 150 miles for M5.0 or higher
To protect your privacy, your device location is aggregated to a 0.1 degree grid cell (approximately 10km x 10km). This calculation happens on your device. Raw latitude / longitude coordinates are discarded. We only send a 10km grid cell identifier to our servers. We think this approach strikes the right balance between location privacy and location accuracy for Nearby Alerts.
Nearby Alerts are turned On by default, so long as you have granted location access. If location access has not been granted, this feature will be disabled. Instructions on How to Enable Location Access.
To turn off Nearby Alerts, toggle the switch to Off on the Alert Settings screen.
Other Notifications
Monthly System Test: We are in the first stage in the licensing process with the USGS, to make early warning alerts available to QuakeFeed users. When this feature becomes available, we will perform a monthly system test. If you would like access to the monthly system test, then leave this switch turned On.
Product Announcements: If the need arises, we may send alerts regarding system status, critical updates, etc. We will also notify you when a new update or podcast is available. If you would like to receive these alerts, then leave this switch turned On.
Alert Sounds
Tap on Regional Alert Sound and/or Nearby Alert Sound to select a custom sound for these types alerts. There are several sound options available, including No Sound. Instructions on How to Enable Alert Sounds.