Earthquake Alerts
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Special recommendations on CAP for earthquakes
Alerting area
Many of our publishers specify the <area> as a <circle> centered at
the earthquake's epicenter. We strongly suggest that you specify a non-zero
radius instead of a single point, because Google Public Alerts are shown more
broadly
to users located inside the <area> than to users outside of the
<area>. For example, your system can select a radius from a set of
predetermined radii values depending on the earthquake's magnitude or depth. If
you must set a zero-radius circle, please note that Google will have to choose a
non-zero targeting radius to use instead. Zero-radius circles are considered
empty target areas, which Google Public Alerts doesn't support.
Since many earthquakes are centered in remote or offshore locations, we also
suggest that you specify the value of the <areaDesc> element in terms of
the epicenter's distance and direction from a more populated or better-known
area. For example:
<areaDesc>10 km SW of Christchurch</areaDesc>
This makes it easier for users to identify the location of the quake using one
or more better-known reference points.
Additional parameters
Please include separate parameters in your CAP for information that you use to
help the public understand an earthquake's strength and intensity. This might
include the earthquake's magnitude, intensity, depth, or origin time. For
example:
<parameter>
<valueName>Magnitude</valueName>
<value>6.1</value>
</parameter>
<parameter>
<valueName>Depth</valueName>
<value>12 km</value>
</parameter>
Google can then parse some of these structured parameters to construct alert
titles or other strings to display on Google Public Alerts. However, it's still a good
idea to include the same information in human-readable language in your CAP
alert's <description>, as well.
If you have an intensity shakemap image, epicenter map image, or other rich
media resources that you'd like to display with your alert, please use the
<resource> element to specify the type and content of the resource file.
Shake intensity
The following semicolon-separated syntax expresses earthquake shake intensities and locations:
<valueName>localMaxIntensity</valueName>
<value>{intensityLevel};{areaDesc};{geocodeName};{geocodeValue};{latitude};{longitude};{schemaNameVer}</value>
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Last updated 2025-08-28 UTC.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-08-28 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eUse a non-zero radius when specifying the \u003ccode\u003e<area>\u003c/code\u003e element for earthquake alerts to ensure broader visibility on Google Public Alerts.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eDescribe the earthquake's location in the \u003ccode\u003e<areaDesc>\u003c/code\u003e element using distance and direction from a well-known area for easier user understanding.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eInclude additional parameters like magnitude, intensity, depth, and origin time in your CAP alert for better alert display on Google Public Alerts.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eUtilize the \u003ccode\u003e<resource>\u003c/code\u003e element to include rich media resources like intensity shakemaps or epicenter maps for enhanced alert content.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eExpress earthquake shake intensities and locations using the specified semicolon-separated syntax within the \u003ccode\u003e<value>\u003c/code\u003e element for the \u003ccode\u003elocalMaxIntensity\u003c/code\u003e parameter.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],["Publishers should specify a non-zero radius for earthquake alert `\u003carea\u003e` in CAP, rather than a single point. Use `\u003careaDesc\u003e` to describe the epicenter's location relative to well-known areas. Include earthquake magnitude, intensity, depth, and origin time as separate `\u003cparameter\u003e` elements and in the `\u003cdescription\u003e`. Utilize the `\u003cresource\u003e` element for rich media like shakemaps. Specify shake intensities and locations using the `\u003cvalueName\u003elocalMaxIntensity\u003c/valueName\u003e` parameter, with a semicolon-separated syntax.\n"],null,["# Earthquake Alerts\n\nSpecial recommendations on CAP for earthquakes\n----------------------------------------------\n\n### Alerting area\n\nMany of our publishers specify the `\u003carea\u003e` as a `\u003ccircle\u003e` centered at\nthe earthquake's epicenter. We strongly suggest that you specify a non-zero\nradius instead of a single point, because Google Public Alerts are [shown more\nbroadly](https://docs.google.com/document/d/15rf8LszRHNh2L4TpXWVjLOgTW0XLgd_8gFGug_LZZKg/edit#heading=h.mks4eedyrwnj)\nto users located inside the `\u003carea\u003e` than to users outside of the\n`\u003carea\u003e`. For example, your system can select a radius from a set of\npredetermined radii values depending on the earthquake's magnitude or depth. If\nyou must set a zero-radius circle, please note that Google will have to choose a\nnon-zero targeting radius to use instead. Zero-radius circles are considered\nempty target areas, which Google Public Alerts doesn't support.\n\nSince many earthquakes are centered in remote or offshore locations, we also\nsuggest that you specify the value of the `\u003careaDesc\u003e` element in terms of\nthe epicenter's distance and direction from a more populated or better-known\narea. For example: \n\n \u003careaDesc\u003e10 km SW of Christchurch\u003c/areaDesc\u003e \n\nThis makes it easier for users to identify the location of the quake using one\nor more better-known reference points.\n\n### Additional parameters\n\nPlease include separate parameters in your CAP for information that you use to\nhelp the public understand an earthquake's strength and intensity. This might\ninclude the earthquake's magnitude, intensity, depth, or origin time. For\nexample: \n\n \u003cparameter\u003e \n \u003cvalueName\u003eMagnitude\u003c/valueName\u003e \n \u003cvalue\u003e6.1\u003c/value\u003e\n \u003c/parameter\u003e\n\n \u003cparameter\u003e \n \u003cvalueName\u003eDepth\u003c/valueName\u003e \n \u003cvalue\u003e12 km\u003c/value\u003e \n \u003c/parameter\u003e\n\nGoogle can then parse some of these structured parameters to construct alert\ntitles or other strings to display on Google Public Alerts. However, it's still a good\nidea to include the same information in human-readable language in your CAP\nalert's `\u003cdescription\u003e`, as well.\n\n### Rich media resources\n\nIf you have an intensity shakemap image, epicenter map image, or other rich\nmedia resources that you'd like to display with your alert, please use the\n`\u003cresource\u003e` element to specify the type and content of the resource file.\n\nShake intensity\n---------------\n\nThe following semicolon-separated syntax expresses earthquake shake intensities and locations: \n\n \u003cvalueName\u003elocalMaxIntensity\u003c/valueName\u003e\n \u003cvalue\u003e{intensityLevel};{areaDesc};{geocodeName};{geocodeValue};{latitude};{longitude};{schemaNameVer}\u003c/value\u003e"]]
