ShakeOut & Tsunami Walk
We all can practice our earthquake and tsunami drills!
Join us on October 17, 2024 at 10:17 am for the Great ShakeOut and the Tsunami Walk
Register ShakeOut.org
See what's happening leading to ShakeOut & Tsunami Day!
Sept 14 - Blue Lake Safety Fair
Sept 24 & 25 - Disaster Con at Blue Lake Rancheria
Oct 1-31 - Earthquake and Tsunami exhibit at the Clarke Museum in Eureka
Oct 5 - Pastels on the Plaza
Oct 7 - Cal Poly OLLI presentation "Iceland: Where rift and hot spot collide spectacularly" 12:00-1:30 pm. Register: https://extended.humboldt.edu/olli/event/iceland-where-rift-and-hot-spot-collide-spectacularly
Oct 14 - 18 - Cal Poly Humboldt Safety Week
Oct 17 - Great ShakeOut at 10:17 am
Oct 17 - Emergency notification systems will be tested across North Coast counties as well as across Cal Poly Humboldt campus. The MyShake app will also issue a notice of the drill.
Nov 5 - World Tsunami Day
What is the Great ShakeOut?
The Great ShakeOut is an annual event held on the third Thursday of October every year. It provides everyone an opportunity to practice their Drop, Cover and Hold On drill in preparation for an earthquake. This drill has been adopted internationally with over 56 million people participating from all around the world in 2023.
This drill is also a great opportunity to plan for your tsunami preparedness and practice your evacuation drill! Earthquake shaking is your natural warning that a tsunami may be on it's way. Practicing your earthquake and tsunami drills together is a great way to be prepared!
While October 17th at 10:17 am is the official day and time of the Great ShakeOut, you can always participate anytime. If you find that the third Thursday doesn't work for you, just pick a time that does. The important thing is to practice! Practice this drill at home, at work, and even at the locations you spend your free time.
This is a great event to do with your family! It helps to alleviate our concerns about a hazard we can't control.
How Do I Know When The Drill Starts?
There are many ways to know when the ShakeOut Drill starts this year!
If you’re signed up for county alerts, then you should be notified via email or phone notification. If you’re signed up with the MyShake app, then you’ll be alerted on your phone. Local radio stations and news outlets will also be covering the drill on their respective platforms. If these methods don’t work for you, set an alarm on your phone for 10:17 am and join us!
Keep in mind, you will not hear sirens go off during this drill.
If you haven’t signed up for MyShake yet, please take a minute to do so! You can download the app through Apple App Store and Google Play. There will be a test of this system this year during ShakeOut to ensure they can reach you.
How Do I Participate?
Participating in this drill can be quick and rewarding!
The first step is to visit the www.shakeout.org website and register. This will provide you with some tools to help you as you practice your drill as well as let us know where our participants are joining from!
Please Register for ShakeOut 2024!
The second step is to practice! Do you know what to do during an earthquake? There are three actions you should take:
Drop to the ground and make yourself as small as possible.
Cover your head and neck to protect it, and if possible get underneath a study table.
Hold on to that position until the shaking stops.
Practice at work!
Practice at home!
Practice with your pets!
Practice in class!
Do you have limited mobility?
If you have limited mobility, there’s also steps for you!
If you're using a cane, do your best to safely and carefully drop to the ground, then cover your neck and head to protect yourself, and hold on until it's safe to move.
If you use a walker or wheelchair, be sure to lock the wheels. Then while seated, cover your neck and head to protect yourself, and hold that position until the shaking slows down enough for you to safely move.
Join our Cal Poly Humboldt Geoscience students as they walk you through this drill:
Why Should You Participate?
Earthquakes can happen anywhere and at any time in the United States. Participating in ShakeOut is a good way to prepare you and your family to do the right thing when the ground starts shaking no matter where you live.
In a Coastal Zone?
Include Tsunamis in Your Drill!
Tsunamis are a possibility if you’re located near the coast. Take a few minutes to check the California Geological Survey Map to see if your home or work is located in a tsunami zone. Even if you don’t live in a location with tsunamis, you may visit a place that is affected by them. Check out the map before you travel as well!
Type in your desired address and zoom in for details.
If you’re from the North Coast, we also have detailed brochures for many towns and communities across Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties. Check them out!
Add a 4th step to your ShakeOut drill this year! Tsunami Walk is an opportunity to practice your tunami preparedness. Identify where you are relative to tsunami zones, and plan what you would do if one were to occur.
After you practice ShakeOut, walk your tsunami evacuation route. The more we practice the better off we’ll be!
Join us as we walk one of the evacuation routes for the community of Manila on the North Spit.
Always remember to evacuate safely! Watch for debris or items that can hurt you, avoid downed power lines, have illumination on hand to light your way, and remember to grab your shoes and emergency kit. Practicing this drill will help to build your muscle memory and confidence during an earthquake and tsunami.
Share this message with your family and friends. You can learn how to practice your drill in 13 different languages!
Talk With Your Kids About Earthquake & Tsunami Safety
Get your kids involved in your planning! This is a family friendly event that can be used to help calm nerves or anxiety over earthquakes and tsunamis. A family that practices together is a prepared family.
Preparing Your Children for Earthquakes and Tsunamis
Check out our tools below for ideas on how to get your kids involved. We have activities designed for many age groups!
Earthquake & Tsunami Safety for Tourists
Keep in mind, you may vacation in areas that are vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis. Make sure you’re prepared for your travels!
To learn more about how to prepare for tsunamis while on your travels, visit our Tsunamis for Tourists page.