What is the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill? – NBC Los Angeles

Get ready to drop, cover and hold Southern California.

Millions of Californians are preparing to take part in the Great ShakeOut to practice what to do during an earthquake. Over 10.4 million Californians have already registered to participate, with another 44.9 million participants worldwide.

Here's what you should know about the event.

When is the Great ShakeOut?

The Great ShakeOut exercise is scheduled for Thursday at 10:17 a.m. At this point, participants practice what to do in homes and businesses if an earthquake strikes.

Californians prepare to take part in an annual earthquake drill. Brittany Hope reports for Today in LA on Thursday, October 17, 2024.

How to protect yourself in an earthquake

You've probably heard it before: “Drop, cover and hold on!” According to federal, state and local emergency management experts, these three simple steps are the easiest and quickest way to prevent injury or even death as a result of an earthquake.

If you use a cane, experts recommend sitting on a chair, bed, or other piece of furniture if you can't cover yourself properly. Then go as low as possible, covering your head and neck with your hands and holding yourself where you are immediately available.

If you use a wheelchair or walker, block the wheels and lean forward as low as possible. Then cover yourself and hold it tight.

Additional accessibility or specific scenario recommendations can be found here.

While earthquakes are nothing new in Southern California, according to Dr. Lucy Jones different sequences. This video aired during NBC4 News on Monday, September 16, 2024 at 4 p.m.

What not to do in an earthquake

The Earthquake Country Alliance has a list of things not to do during earthquakes.

• Don't stand in a doorway. Doors in most modern homes are no safer than any other part of the home and do not protect residents from falling or flying debris.
• Don't run outside. Trying to run outside is dangerous as the ground moves and debris can fall around you.
• Don't practice the “triangle of life,” says the Earthquake Country Alliance (ECA), a partnership of people and organizations in California working to improve earthquake preparedness. These recent emails describe alternative processes to the standard “Drop, Cover, and Hold.” “Recommended by experts is to stand next to a table instead of ducking under it.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has found that there are 10,000 earthquakes in Southern California each year. Since 2015, buildings in Los Angeles have been retrofitted in accordance with Ordinance 183893 to reduce structural hazards and damage during severe shaking.

The exercise is scheduled for Thursday at 10:17 a.m.