Datacenter and Natural Disasters: Responsiveness Matters

New Zealand's position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" results in frequent seismic activity, with about 10 felt earthquakes daily, and the 2011 Christchurch earthquake highlighting the need for effective response systems. GNS Science, through its GeoNet system, plays a crucial role in monitoring seismic activity with a network of seismometers, although outdated alert systems previously hindered timely notifications to their response teams. The introduction of PagerDuty has revolutionized their alerting process by ensuring that only significant earthquakes, those 4.5 or larger on the Richter scale, trigger alerts to on-call team members, akin to IT incident management practices. This shift not only enhances the team's responsiveness during crises but also allows for flexible management of on-call schedules, ensuring team members can adapt and avoid burnout during extended emergencies. The reliability of PagerDuty in maintaining effective communication during seismic events underscores its importance in public safety, with GNS Science now better equipped to provide timely information to the public and media.