If Californians feel the earth move on October 20, chances are it won’t be an actual earthquake—it will be the simultaneous actions of ten million people across the state preparing for an earthquake. At exactly 10:20 a.m., Californians in offices, schools, universities, hospitals, churches, homes, and all across the state will take part in a drill known as The Great California ShakeOut.
This annual statewide drill, which includes the widely practiced Drop, Cover, and Hold On! exercise, focuses on preparing for earthquake emergencies. The ShakeOut website, www.ShakeOut.org, offers guidance on what to do before, during, and immediately after an earthquake, from emergency supply checklists to information on local resources.
I first had an opportunity to experience an organized, large-scale earthquake drill in Mexico City in 2007. I was visiting with an Earthquake Megacities Initiative group and we saw firsthand the success of this drill; a citywide “teachable moment” involving three million people. The following year, under the leadership of the Earthquake Country Alliance, California had its first ShakeOut, with more than five million people. The number of participants here in the Golden State has now doubled; and there are other ShakeOuts being planned around the world in Canada, New Zealand, and several other U.S. states.
I’ve recently been honored to begin serving as the chair of the Disasters Roundtable of the National Academy of Sciences as well as the Earthquake Country Alliance Steering Committee. Through both roles, I hope to advocate for the kind of communication and cooperation that the ShakeOut reflects. Through proactive knowledge-sharing and mutual support, we can become a more resilient nation—better informed and better prepared.
