The Great ShakeOut is the world’s largest coordinated exercise dedicated to earthquake preparedness, engaging millions of people across the globe. This annual drill provides an opportunity for individuals, families, and organizations to practice the proper steps for self-protection when seismic activity begins. By simulating an actual earthquake scenario, the ShakeOut aims to transform theoretical knowledge into muscle memory, ensuring a swift and effective response. The exercise improves public safety and community resilience against the unpredictable threat of a major earthquake.
Defining the Great ShakeOut
The concept for the Great ShakeOut emerged from a scientific effort to understand the potential consequences of a major seismic event in the United States. It was first developed in Southern California, a region with high seismic risk, based on the ShakeOut Scenario. This comprehensive model detailed the likely outcomes of a simulated magnitude 7.8 rupture on the San Andreas Fault, which provided the impetus for a massive public safety exercise.
The first large-scale public drill, held in 2008, was known as the Great Southern California ShakeOut. Its primary goal was to encourage residents to actively practice recommended safety procedures rather than just discussing preparedness. The exercise quickly evolved into a worldwide preparedness movement. It functions as a non-profit effort coordinated by entities like the Southern California Earthquake Center in partnership with government agencies such as the U.S. Geological Survey and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Global Scope of Participation
The Great ShakeOut has grown significantly since its inception, transforming it into an international event with tens of millions of participants each year. This global movement includes official ShakeOut regions across the United States, such as California, Utah, and the Central US, and extends to countries including New Zealand, Canada, and Japan. The drill encourages participation from nearly every sector of society, including individuals, families, K-12 schools, universities, businesses, and all levels of government.
The International ShakeOut Day often occurs on the third Thursday of October, usually at 10:00 a.m. local time, to create a sense of unified practice. Organizations that cannot participate on the official day can still register and conduct their drill at any time throughout the year. Registration is important because it allows organizers to track the total number of people participating worldwide and provides registrants with access to resources and preparedness guides.
Mastering the Drop Cover and Hold On Technique
The central action practiced during the drill is the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” protocol, which is endorsed by emergency management experts as the best way to reduce injury during ground shaking. The first step, “Drop,” involves immediately getting onto your hands and knees wherever you are. This prevents you from being thrown to the ground and helps you stay low, as the intense motion of an earthquake can easily knock a standing person off balance and cause serious injury from falls.
Next, “Cover” requires you to protect your head and neck with an arm or hand, ideally by crawling under a sturdy piece of furniture like a desk or table. If no shelter is nearby, you should crawl next to an interior wall and bend over to shield your vital organs. This action protects you from non-structural hazards, such as falling light fixtures, shelves, and ceiling plaster, which are the main cause of injury in earthquakes.
Finally, “Hold On” means securing your position under the furniture with one hand and remaining there until the shaking completely stops. If the shaking is violent enough to shift the furniture, you must move with it to maintain your cover. Specific circumstances require adaptations: a person in a wheelchair needs to lock the wheels and cover their head, and someone in bed should stay put and cover their head and neck with a pillow.
Measuring the Impact of Annual Drills
The success of the Great ShakeOut is measured by the number of registered participants, which frequently exceeds 60 million globally, and by improvements in preparedness. This annual practice helps increase public awareness about seismic risks, even in areas that do not frequently experience large earthquakes. The drill provides a common framework for organizations to strengthen their emergency plans and identify potential weaknesses in their facilities.
Studies show that individuals who participate in the drill are more likely to take the correct protective actions during an actual earthquake event. This shift toward preparedness helps build community resilience, enabling neighborhoods and institutions to withstand the impact of a disaster and recover more effectively. The ShakeOut promotes a sustained effort to secure heavy objects and organize disaster supplies, which are concrete steps that reduce future harm.