More than 19.2 Million People Nationwide Participating in Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills on October 15
By practicing “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” or "Lock, Cover, and Hold On" (if in a wheelchair), people across the U.S. &
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By practicing “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” or “Lock, Cover, and Hold On” (if in a wheelchair), people across the U.S. & worldwide improve their earthquake safety.
LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, October 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — More than 71 million people worldwide are participating in Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills in 2026, including more than 19.2 million across all U.S. states and territories. Most will practice on International ShakeOut Day, Thursday, October 15, many at 10:15 a.m. local time.
Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills encourages people to practice protecting themselves during earthquakes to reduce injuries and save lives. The movement began in Southern California in 2008 and has grown into a worldwide opportunity for individuals, schools, businesses, and other organizations to strengthen their preparedness.
There is still time to participate. Register at www.ShakeOut.org and hold a drill on October 15 or any other day that works for you or your organization—even later in the year.
During their drills, participants practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” or protective actions adapted to their circumstances. People who use wheelchairs practice “Lock, Cover, and Hold On.” Guidance for these actions and other situations—including being in bed, driving, or being in a stadium, theater, or coastal area—is available at www.EarthquakeCountry.org/step5. Many participants also use ShakeOut to practice other parts of their emergency plans.
“ShakeOut is a great start to improving earthquake preparedness and resilience,” said Mark Benthien, Global ShakeOut Coordinator and Director of Public Education and Preparedness for the Statewide California Earthquake Center based at the University of Southern California. “Earthquakes can be sudden and violent, but we can greatly reduce their effects if we take steps to prepare ourselves, those around us, and the structures in which we live, work, and learn.
Preparedness extends beyond the drill. The Earthquake Country Alliance’s Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety begins with “Secure Your Space”: anchoring furniture and TVs, securing cabinet doors, and fastening other items that could fall or be thrown during shaking. These actions can reduce injuries and property damage.
California leads U.S. participation, with more than 10.8 million people expected to register this year, followed by Washington with more than 1.5 million and Utah with nearly 1 million people who participated in a statewide drill this past April. Virginia ranks fourth—a reminder, underscored by the 2011 earthquake near Mineral, Virginia, that earthquake preparedness matters on the East Coast, too. Regional participation totals are available at www.ShakeOut.org.
People in California, Oregon, and Washington who have installed the MyShake app on their phone may receive a test alert between 10:14 and 10:17 AM Pacific time on October 15, depending on their location. MyShake delivers earthquake early warnings powered by the U.S. Geological Survey’s ShakeAlert® system (www.ShakeAlert.org), which detects earthquakes after they begin and can provide warning before strong shaking arrives.
Cities, counties, school districts, and other organizations will also test their emergency communications systems. Washington will test its coastal tsunami sirens as part of ShakeOut.
Drill planning resources are available at www.ShakeOut.org/howtoparticipate. Earthquake safety guidance is available in 18 languages at www.EarthquakeCountry.org/languages.
Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills are coordinated by the Statewide California Earthquake Center (SCEC) at the University of Southern California, with funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Science Foundation, and United States Geological Survey.
Mark Benthien
Statewide California Earthquake Center
+1 213-740-0323
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ShakeOut Drill Narration for playing during earthquake drills (includes earthquake sound effects)
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