Millions worldwide to participate in Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills

Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills, regionally organized campaigns linked together as a worldwide preparedness movement spanning 60+ countries, are involving more than 63.9 million people (and counting) in earthquake safety activities throughout 2019.

Most participants practice how to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” though many choose to do much more. ShakeOut organizers recommend people follow the Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety to get fully prepared to survive and recover from the next damaging earthquake.

While earthquake drills held any day of the year can be registered at ShakeOut.org, many will participate on International ShakeOut Day (Thursday, October 17, in 2019, coinciding with the 30^th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake which shook the San Francisco Bay Area of California).

More than 22 million people around the world are expected to participate on October 17, including more than 19 million people within the United States and its territories. 

Registration is ongoing and these numbers will increase; check ShakeOut.org for current totals.

“ShakeOut encourages cross-sector, whole community conversation and action about earthquake preparedness, inspiring people to make better decisions for how they can prepare to survive and recover,” said Mark Benthien, Global ShakeOut Coordinator and Outreach Director for the Southern California Earthquake Center at the University of Southern California. “We’re all in this together!”

“Earthquakes can happen in any community at any time,” said Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Acting Administrator Pete Gaynor. “I encourage everyone to participate in ShakeOut because it’s a quick and easy way to get the training needed to keep you safe in the event of an earthquake.”

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