When the big earthquake struck Japan experts say countless lives were saved because of Japan's nationwide earthquake notification system. It's technology that could soon be in use in the Coachella Valley.
Former Palm Springs Fire Chief Blake Goetz is leading a group of desert public safety officials trying to significantly expand the Valley's existing earthquake alert system.
"We are sitting on a very large quake fault, liable to rupture at any time," said Goetz.
The current system is installed at 12 valley fire stations. The special sensors detect seismic activity at the very early stages and automatically open fire station doors so fire trucks do not become trapped inside.
Now, the group wants to install a network of these sensors at 120 sites throughout the Valley, many at schools.
The advance notice would be anywhere from a few seconds, up to 30 seconds, depending on how close the sensor is to the earthquake's epicenter.
Simulations shows the improved network would give the La Quinta fire station 17 seconds advance notice if a 8.0 quake struck 9 miles deep near the Salton Sea.
The price tag for the system is around $1.5 million dollars. Installation of new sensors is expect to be at least a year away.
