How To Participate and Prepare

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

There are many ways for individuals, businesses, schools, faith-based organizations, community groups, scouts, and others to participate in the ShakeOut, to get prepared for earthquakes, and to share what you're doing with others so they can do the same. Select from the following list to download flyers with customized ideas for what you or your organization can do:

Custom information for each category (PDF)


RESOURCES

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Drill Manuals, Multimedia, Flyers, and many other resources are available for your use

Countdown to ShakeOut for Organizations (PDF)

New! Recommended Earthquake Safety Actions (PDF | RTF)

New! Earthquake Guide for People with Disabilities (PDF | RTF)

PLAN YOUR DRILL

Today:

  • Register yourself or your organization to be counted in the ShakeOut Drill, get email updates, and more.

Between now and October 17:

  • 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. See this page for what to do if you have a disability or an activity limitation.

  • Download Audio and Video "Drill Broadcast" recordings that have been created to provide instructions during your drill (Video versions have text captions).

  • Talk to other people or organizations about what they have done, and encourage them to join you in getting more prepared. Display posters around your community, classroom, or office space and provide flyers for further information.

October 17th, 10:17 am:

  1. 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!

  2. 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?

  3. Finally, practice what your community will do after the shaking stops.
©2013 SCEC Southern California Earthquake Center @ USC
ShakeOut.org