The United States Geological Survey (USGS) logo. Background is public domain photo of SF 1906 earthquake. (USGS via Bay City News)

A statewide drill involving an early warning earthquake alert system popped off on people’s cellphones seven hours earlier than planned and led to some early morning confusion early Thursday.

The ShakeAlert system is operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and is designed to detect earthquakes and estimate their locations, magnitudes and shaking intensities. 

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Kiley Russell writes primarily for Local News Matters on issues related to equity and the environment. A Bay Area native, he has lived most of his life in Oakland. He studied journalism at San Francisco State University, worked for the Associated Press and the former Contra Costa Times, among other outlets. He has covered everything from state legislatures, local governments, federal and state courts, crime, growth and development, political campaigns of various stripes, wildfires and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.