Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) were joined by 36 colleagues in Congress in sending a letter to the Appropriations Committee urging members to increase federal funding to $16.1 million in 2018 to build and maintain an earthquake early warning system on the West Coast.

Schiff first secured $5 million in funding for the system in 2015, and Congress increased funding to $8.2 million last year. The fiscal year 2017 House Interior bill included $10.2 million, but the funding has not been enacted. This year, the members are requesting $16.1 million. It is estimated that a full system of sensors will cost $38.2 million to build along the West Coast, with annual operating and maintenance costs of $16.1 million.

A limited earthquake early warning system developed by Caltech, the University of California, Berkeley, University of Washington and the University of Oregon, in conjunction with the United State Geological Survey (USGS), has already been deployed in a testing phase and has proven that the early warning technology is sound, Schiff said.

“It is imperative that Congress help to fund construction and continued maintenance of an earthquake early warning system along the West Coast,” Schiff added. “The West Coast resides on top of hundreds of fault lines, making our residents and infrastructure particularly vulnerable to earthquakes. The technology has proven itself both in testing here in the United States as well is in countries like Mexico and Japan and it would be irresponsible not to fund this critical technology before the next ‘big one’ hits.”

The Congress members’ letter stated that FEMA estimates earthquakes cost the United States more than $5 billion a year, averaged over the long term. An investment in an earthquake early warning system will save lives and protect businesses, and could make a difference in a more rapid recovery for local communities, the federal government and the economy as a whole, the letter read.

“While the Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful places to live, its landscape also presents unique challenges,” DelBene said. “Unfortunately, we know all too well earthquakes can cause great devastation and the U.S. Geological Survey has told us it’s only a matter of time before the next big one. We can and must make smart investments now in resources and research efforts to help prevent future natural disasters from becoming national tragedies.”