The Great California Shakeout Earthquake drill is being conducted throughout the state and Santa Clarita preparing residents for the “Big One,” according to officials.

On Thursday, Oct. 18 at 10:18 a.m. schools throughout Santa Clarita are set to participate in a statewide earthquake drill to prepare residents on what to do during an earthquake.

Although the main event is Thursday, Some Hart District schools have already participated in the drill, and some schools are set to participate in the drill on a later date, according to Dave Caldwell, spokesperson with the Hart District.

“California is prone to earthquakes given that we have earthquake hazards throughout our state, from the southern San Andreas Fault to the northern Cascadia Subduction Zone,” said former Mayor Cameron Smyth in a previous KHTS article. “The Shakeout drill is a perfect opportunity to prepare an emergency recovery plan with family members, coworkers and schoolmates.”

Since 2008, millions of Californians, as well as millions more across the country, have participated in order to practice and spread awareness about proper earthquake safety.

Related: Great California Shakeout Earthquake Drills Planned For Santa Clarita

Santa Clarita Valley “Shakeout” drill organizers plan to teach participants proper safety techniques, including how to find the proper overhead services to drop, cover and hold on to.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department is also planning on participating in an earthquake drill as well.

During the drill LACoFD plans to simulate having their communications system knocked out due to the earthquake, according to William Whalen, a Captain with the LACoFD.

“We are not going to be able to talk with our dispatch center in East l.a. and we will practice dispatching calls locally,” Whalen said.

Under the regular system, residents call 9-1-1 in Santa Clarita, whether it is to report a crime, traffic collision or medical emergency, with all those calls either going straight to the California Highway Patrol or the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. When calls are medical-related, the Sheriff’s Station or CHP dispatchers transfer the calls to the LACoFD dispatch center in East

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