Today:

• Register your organization to be counted in the ShakeOut Drill, get email updates, and more. Encourage your staff to register their families.

Between now and October 18:

• Consider what may happen in a major earthquake and plan what your team will do now to prepare, so that when it happens you will be able to recover quickly.


• Talk to other organizations about what they have done, and encourage them to join you in getting more prepared.


• Download audio and video "drill broadcast" recordings to play during your drill (Video versions have text captions).

October 18, 10:18 a.m.:

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! (See this page for what to do if outFor people with disabilities or access and functional needs, download our preparedness guide (661 KB) PDF.
   
   
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. (Optional) Practice what your organization will do after the shaking stops.


4. After your drill is complete, have discussions about what was learned and incorporate these lessons into your disaster plan.

What we do now, before the earthquake, will determine what our lives will be like after.

• Visit MyHazards (California Governors Office of Emergency Services) to discover the hazards that exist in your area and learn how to reduce YOUR risk!


• Help individuals and families to get prepared. More information is in the Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety.


• Create plan to go door-to-door to educate your community on emergency preparedness.


• Test alliances and MOU’s with your critical need vendors, community leaders and sponsoring organizations.


• The DRB Toolkit interactive software application is designed to assist small to midsize orgnizations build a comprehensive disaster plan and continuity program. Organizations receive a 50% discount code for the software when they register for the ShakeOut.


• Sponsor a CERT refresher course.


• Check and test your organization's emergency equipment - fire extinguishers, first aid, flashlights, food, crank radios, satellite phones, generator, fuel; make sure staff know the location and how to utilize supplies.


• Provide non-English speaking community members with written preparedness information in their language.

• Encourage your staff, clients, and others to register as individuals or families.


• Ask neighborhood businesses to display posters about ShakeOut in their windows and flyers at their counters.


• Tell everyone to watch "Preparedness Now", a compelling film that depicts what will happen in a "big one," and other videos.


• Add a link to ShakeOut.org on your website; use one of several ShakeOut web banners.


• Once you are registered, you will receive ShakeOut preparedness tips, event updates, and more. Forward these to your membership and ask them to forward the e-mails to everyone who matters to them. With your help this can become the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history!