How Individuals and Families Can Participate

Californians must get better prepared before the next big earthquake, and also practice how to protect ourselves when it happens. The purpose of the ShakeOut is to help people and organizations do both.

The boxes below describe how individuals and families can participate in the ShakeOut. With your participation, this may be the largest earthquake drill ever!

The Jessop family did their drill at home, catching their four home-schooled children off guard.

They dropped, covered and held on, and they also practiced giving medical attention, checking the utilities, and inspecting the house’s structure. They also made a list of emergency supplies they would get soon.

They feel at peace knowing exactly what to do, and now plan to participate in a drill each year.

Invite everyone who matters to you to register for the ShakeOut. With your help this can become the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history!

Host a ShakeOut Block Party. Invite your neighbors over for coffee and share preparedness information, exchange phone numbers, and create an inventory of special skills (search and rescue, first aid, equipment) and needs (elderly, children, pets, medication, etc.) in your community. Also, encourage everyone to register while there, especially those without internet access.

Tell everyone to watch "Preparedness Now", a compelling film that depicts what will happen in a "big one," and other videos.

Encourage your community, faith-based group, or employer to register for the ShakeOut as well, and to develop ShakeOut participation events.

Today: Register to be counted in the ShakeOut Drill, get email updates, and more.

Between now and October 21: Consider what may happen when an earthquake shakes your area. Plan what you will do now to prepare, so that when it happens you will be able to protect yourself and then recover quickly. Talk to other people about what they have done, and encourage them to join you in getting more prepared.

Secure Your Space: As a special theme for the 2010 ShakeOut, we encourage all Californians to reduce potential damage and injuries by strapping furniture and large appliances to walls, securing TVs and electronics, applying quake putty to small items, and more.

Audio and Video "Drill Broadcast" recordings

Video versions have text captions

October 21, 10:21 a.m.:

Drop, Cover, and Hold On: Drop to the ground, take Cover under a table or desk, and Hold On to it as if a major earthquake were happening (stay down for at least 60 seconds). Practice now so you will immediately protect yourself during earthquakes! (See this page for what to do if you are in bed, outside, driving, in a tall building, or other situations.) See this page for what to do if you have a disability or an activity limitation.)
While still under the table, or wherever you are, look around and imagine what would happen in a major earthquake. What would fall on you or others? What would be damaged? What would life be like after? What will you do before the actual earthquake happens to reduce losses and quickly recover?
Finally, you can practice what you will do after the shaking stops.

What we do now, before the earthquake, will determine what our lives will be like after. The following are key actions from the Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety which has additional things you can do to prepare.

Do a "hazard hunt" for items that might fall in your home during earthquakes and secure them.

Create a personal or family disaster-preparedness plan.
- Plan for your family's specific needs (seniors, disabled, children, pets).
- Teach all household members how to use a fire extinguisher.
- Create wallet cards for each family member with essential contact information.
Organize or refresh your emergency supply kits.

Store at least one gallon of water per person, per day, for 3 days and ideally for 2 weeks.
What else would you need to be on your own for up to 2 weeks?
What would you need if you are in your car or office when the earthquake strikes?

Identify your building's weaknesses. Ask a local earthquake retrofitting contractor for a free structural inspection of your home or building. Also, review your insurance coverage, whether home-owner or renter. Consider whether earthquake insurance is right for you.

Create a game where everyone responds to a signal by practicing Drop Cover and Hold On. Talk to your children about what to expect during and after an earthquake.

Enroll in a local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to learn more about how to take care of yourself and your family when you are "on your own" after a disaster.

Provide non-English speaking members of your family, neighborhood or community with written information in their language.

Southern California Earthquake Center @