LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The federal government shutdown is disrupting earthquake monitoring efforts by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and threatening Nevada’s push to secure funding for a potentially life-saving early earthquake warning system.
The USGS website now displays a notice at the top stating that earthquake monitoring is being impacted by the lapse in federal funding. Nevada, alongside California and Alaska, ranks among the top three states most affected by large-scale earthquakes.
“We have earthquakes everywhere across the state,” said Dr. Christie Rowe, director of the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, a statewide program run out of UNR. Their network of earthquake monitors throughout Nevada relies heavily on federal funding. Some of the monitors are used by other states for an early earthquake warning system.
“Right now, we have a whole bunch of seismometers that are part of the ShakeAlert system that are operated by our lab out of Nevada… Californians are getting warnings on earthquakes even if they happen on our side of the state line. Nevadans would not be getting those warnings,” Dr. Rowe revealed.
ShakeAlert, currently active in California, Oregon and Washington, sends alerts to cell phones up to 30 seconds before a major earthquake strikes. Dr, Rowe contends those seconds can save lives.
“In the Bay Area and in Los Angeles, they are stopping underground trains when they get the warnings so that the train won’t be bumped off the tracks by shaking. They are automatically opening the doors of firehouses… They are pausing surgeries,” Dr. Rowe added.
Shortly before the government shutdown began, Rowe and a team of scientists traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for bringing the ShakeAlert system to Nevada.
“We all came together to say it’s time to add Nevada to the program, and we had a really positive reception from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. We met with appropriations staff in both houses,” Dr. Rowe recounted.
However, the shutdown has put those funding hopes on shaky ground.
“This may not rise to the top level of importance in this year’s budget,” Dr. Rowe acknowledged.
Despite the current challenges, Dr. Rowe remains optimistic about future funding opportunities. She estimates it would take about a year to get ShakeAlert operational in Nevada once funding is secured.
Copyright 2025 KVVU. All rights reserved.
