Join the Great California ShakeOut and be earthquake prepared

Published on October 10, 2022

In California, natural disasters can occur anytime with little warning, and earthquakes are not a matter of if but when. Being prepared ahead of time and implementing resources to help stay safe when an earthquake strikes can make a world of difference when it comes to quakes.

As part of preparedness efforts, Cal OES encourages the public to participate in the annual Great California ShakeOut drill, which will take place on October 20, 2022. You can hold your ShakeOut drill when and where you want. You can include people in multiple locations (home, work or school), perhaps through video conferencing. Register with the Great California ShakeOut.

The Great California ShakeOut is an annual opportunity to practice how to be safer during big earthquakes: "Drop, Cover and Hold On." Experts recommend “Drop, Cover and Hold,” because trying to move during shaking puts you at risk and the greatest danger to you is from falling and flying objects.

In 2020, California became the first state in the nation to launch a statewide earthquake warning system, now known as Earthquake Warning California. California residents can find the latest materials, resources and news at earthquake.ca.gov. You can also receive earthquake warnings with the state’s free MyShake app, which can be downloaded on the App Store or Google Play on smartphones or tablets.

The MyShake app issues warnings for earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.5 or larger. Wireless Emergency Alerts (text-like emergency messages) are issued for earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.0 or larger. Warnings are currently available in both English and Spanish, depending on the user’s mobile phone settings.