Early Earthquake Alert Wakes Startled West Coast Residents

Faulty Timing Triggers Magnitude 4.1 Earthquake Alert Seven Hours Early, Disrupts Sleep Across West Coast Amid Annual Great ShakeOut Drill

A 4.1 magnitude earthquake struck southwest of Isleton, California, followed by an erroneously timed test alert that woke residents seven hours early.
The premature alert was sent out at 3:19 a.m. Pacific Time on October 19, 2023, instead of the scheduled time of 10:19 a.m.
Social media users, including notable figures, debated the mishap and its implications for emergency management during real disaster scenarios.
The confusion occurred on the day of the annual International ShakeOut Day, a scheduled earthquake drill carried out on the third Thursday of every October.
The Great ShakeOut has been an annual event since 2008 and involves participants practicing 'drop, cover, and hold on' procedures during a simulated earthquake.
Despite early hiccups, the USGS ShakeAlert went off successfully at its originally scheduled time, informing citizens that no action was required.