Earthquake shakeout drill: What do you do when a quake hits - here are details

As people sat in anticipation of the Great California shake out drill, a yearly event in the state which trains residents for a possible earthquake response, tremors were felt across the state. And soon people realised that with just an hour to go for a mock drill, it was indeed a real quake that they were feeling, with reports saying that the center was somewhere near Berkeley, a mile on the east of it.

State Geologist Jeremy Lancaster said, “The best protective action you can take during an earthquake is to drop down, get under your desk, cover your head and hold on to something that’s sturdy, like the leg of a table,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The ShakeOut website also shares simple tips: tie or fix things that can fall, make a family safety plan, and refill your emergency kits.

ShakeOut drill and earthquake safety tips

Scheduled a day before the anniversary of one of the deadliest quakes the state has seen, a 6.9- magnitude plate shatterer called the Loma Prieta quake, which ripped up parts of the Bay bridge. The drill starts with a spurt of alerts, which come at 10:16 am on MY Shake app to Californians on the anniversary day.


The ShakeAlert system by the U.S. Geological Survey helps detect earthquakes early by sensing seismic waves. People close to the epicenter may get little or no warning. If someone doesn’t get the test alert, they should update the MyShake app and turn on location services and notifications. Users who don’t want the drill alert can temporarily turn off notifications on the app.

Millions join the California ShakeOut event

Over 57.9 million people worldwide have signed up for the ShakeOut drill. In California, over 10 million people have signed up, including 1.6 million in the Bay Area, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. At 10:16 a.m., BART will turn on its ShakeAlert early warning system. Trains will slow down to 27 mph and stop for a short time. BART will also make public announcements for riders, test internal communication systems, and simulate damage inspections.

This week, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is touring the state with an earthquake simulation trailer. It gives quake preparedness information and works like the California Academy of Science’s Shake House.

FAQs

Q1. What is the Great California ShakeOut drill?

The Great California ShakeOut is an annual earthquake safety drill that teaches people how to protect themselves by dropping, covering, and holding on during a quake.

Q2. When does the ShakeOut earthquake drill take place?

The ShakeOut drill happens every year at 10:16 a.m. local time, with millions of people around the world taking part.