When can California expect an earthquake early warning system?

Countries such as Japan, Taiwan and Mexico all have early warning systems in place to warn citizens five to ten seconds before an earthquake hits. Right now, only a limited system exists in California to warn hospitals, trains, nuclear plants and anyone with a phone app of an impending quake. That could be about to change as the California Senate debates whether or not to spend $80 million to help fix glitches to the current system and implement earthquake monitors statewide. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is also set to announce $5 million in federal grants to help the city of Los Angeles build its own earthquake warning system.

ARN host Omar Shamout spoke with Egill Hauksonn, a researcher at Caltech's Seismological Laboratory, about the specific challenges California faces in putting a statewide system in place.