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Technology is making it a little easier to be ready for earthquakes and to keep track of seismic activity from around the world. Here are some of the most useful earthquake apps for preparedness, research, and knowledge.
With earthquake warnings, you’ll only have seconds to receive a warning of shaking before the shocks hit.
If you live in a seismically active zone, take safety steps at home and know what to do at work, church, and other places you regularly visit. Don’t rely on these apps alone to keep you safe, but simply to keep you informed.
Best Early Warning Alerts for Pacific Northwesterners: MyShake
What We Like
Worldwide map of earthquakes.
Any user can contribute to the network through a simple survey.
View damage and shaking reports, including intensity levels.
Free with no ads or in-app purchases.
MyShake is a project of the University of California. Funded by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, this app leverages millions of “citizen scientists” to report earthquake activity around the globe.
In addition to pushing out notifications with customizable minimum magnitudes, the app also provides early warning alerts in California, Oregon, and Washington using the USGS ShakeAlert system, delivering notifications several seconds before shaking begins.
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Best for Data Tracking: QuakeFeed
What We Like
Full of nice touches, like the tectonic plates delineated on the map screen.
Plenty of sorting tools and information, with each quake clickable and taking you straight to the map.
QuakeFeed is just the quakes, always the quakes, all the time. Loaded with sorting functions and tools to put quakes in any order you want, this app will keep you informed, in detail.
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Best for Safety: Emergency by American Red Cross
What We Like
Detailed quake preparation information.
Informative, even fun, educational quizzes.
Deep and detailed information about helping others as well as yourself.
What We Don’t Like
Will only offer alerts at your actual location, so if you can’t track quake-prone areas you don’t live in.
Some links in the app, such as the reporting links to the United States Geological Survey Links, are broken.
Earthquake safety is important, but you might be taken aback by how little you actually know.
This app by the American Red Cross isn’t just designed for when seismic events hit; it’s designed to educate with fun quizzes, help you plan before an earthquake strikes, and get to safety and shelter after an event.
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For Non-Quake Seismic Events: Volcanoes and Earthquakes
What We Like
Granular and detailed lists and maps.
Map tab includes a satellite imagery option.
A-Z list of recent events.
Not every shaking of the earth is an earthquake. If you live in a volcanically active area, you need to know if it’s a quake or an eruption, and this app has plenty of information to help you out.
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Best for Amateur Seismologists: Earthquake Alert!
What We Like
Simple to use interface.
Detailed information including intensity, location, time, and depth within the Earth.
The “Stats” tab has plenty of fun facts for seismology fans.
What We Don’t Like
News tab is automated, not curated.
The map is imprecise; you may need to zoom and keep zooming to find a specific quake.
Earthquake Alert has more data than you can grind a plate against, and it’s perfect for the amateur seismologist.
The app collects information on all quakes above 1.0+ on the Richter scale in the U.S., and all quakes above 4.5+ on the Richter scale internationally. It also has a handy rolling list of quakes, if you want to see what’s going on around the world, or near you, at any given time.
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What We Like
Detects earthquakes and alerts residents.
Users will get the alerts automatically.
System is completely free.
What We Don’t Like
If you’re very close to an earthquake, you won’t get much advance warning.
Limited geographic availability.
While it’s not an app you can download, Android’s built-in earthquake detection and warning system is a fascinating and potentially life-saving feature.
If you have an Android phone and live in a supported area, your device will automatically detect earthquakes via the phone’s movement-sensitive accelerometer. Google gathers and analyzes this data and then automatically sends out an alert to users in the area. After the quake, users can access tips for what to do next.
Google works with California’s ShakeAlert System to warn affected residents in California, Oregon, and Washington. Globally, the Android Earthquake Alerts System works in New Zealand, Greece, Turkey, and other areas.
Best for Pitching In: Earthquake Network
Earthquake Network works by crowdsourcing alerts. As users feel a quake, the alert races through the system, letting you know precious seconds earlier. It’s also just a useful app to have to help gather data.
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Best for Overseas Vacations: LastQuake
What We Like
Attractive, well-designed interface.
Informative details under each quake, including witness statements and photographs.
What We Don’t Like
European-focused, for obvious reasons, so it’s more of a backup app for Americans.
May need to play with the tabs a bit to find the ideal mix.
The official app of the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center, this app has everything you could possibly need to know about earthquakes in the Euro-Mediterranean region, not to mention worldwide. Don’t leave for your European vacation without it downloaded.
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