Millions Worldwide Participate In 2016 Great Shakeout Earthquake Drills

Most participants practice how to "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" though many choose to do much more, such as hold table-top exercises, tsunami and fire evacuation drills, safety equipment demonstrations, business continuity meetings, earthquake insurance and retrofit assessments, and even mock search-and-rescue activities.

While earthquake drills held any day of the year can be registered at ShakeOut.org, many will participate on International ShakeOut Day (Thursday, October 20). More than 18 million people around the world are expected to participate on this day, including more than 17 million people within the United States and its territories. Registration is ongoing and these numbers will increase; check www.ShakeOut.org for current totals.

Everyone, everyone should know how to protect themselves from earthquakes, as they may occur wherever you live, work, or travel. Families, schools, and organizations of all types participate in ShakeOut drills so that they will be prepared to survive and recover quickly when large earthquakes occur.

"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.

Government officials, earth scientists, preparedness experts, and search-and-rescue teams around the world emphasize performing Drop, Cover, and Hold On as the recommended safety action immediately when shaking is felt:

DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and also allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter if nearby.

COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand

• If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter
• If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows)
• Stay on your knees; bend over to protect vital organs

HOLD ON until shaking stops

• Under shelter: hold on to it with one hand; be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts
• No shelter: hold on to your head and neck with both arms and hands.

Recommended actions for a variety of special situations (in a theater, in a car, etc.) and for people with disabilities are described at www.EarthquakeCountry.org/step5.

KEY MEDIA RESOURCE:
ShakeOut.org/media – guidance for promoting and reporting on ShakeOut, lists of ShakeOut media venues, links to content suggestions (B-Roll, graphics, language-support), recent releases, and contacts

CONTACT:
Jason Ballmann
Southern California Earthquake Center
Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills
213.740.1560
[email protected]

ShakeOut.org, is managed by the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) at the University of Southern California, with funding from the National Science Foundation, United States Geological Survey, and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161013/428505-INFO

SOURCE Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills