Dr. Lucy Jones discusses importance of early warning earthquake system

PASADENA, Calif. (KABC) -- Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones spent her entire career researching California's seismic network and recently focused on the Earthquake Early Warning System.

But last week, she and her colleagues at Caltech in Pasadena learned $10 million in federal funding to the U.S. Geological Survey would be wiped out in President Donald Trump's proposed budget.

"This is fundamentally about how our society feels about science. Do we want it part of our lives? Do we want it as something we can use?" she said.

It's disappointing for Jones because the early-warning technology is now incredibly close to a limited release. If and when it is implemented, the system would alert people of imminent shaking. There would also be alerts on phones by the end of 2018.

"One aspect of this is knowing when the big earthquake is coming. It's also knowing when the small earthquake is going to stay small," she said.

If the budget is approved, the cuts would take effect Oct. 1. But Jones does not expect the budget to be approved as is. She points to support from most West Coast lawmakers, including Congressman Adam Schiff who said support for the system in Congress is "sustained, growing and bipartisan."

"We will not accept this attempt by the president to cut a vital funding stream for a program that will protect life, property and critical infrastructure," he said.

Jones said the proof comes from Japan after their magnitude 9 earthquake in 2011.

"No trains derailed because no trains were moving when the earthquake hit," Jones said.