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Annual California Shake-Out Day To Take Place This Month

Shake-Out Day, when millions of Californians and people around the globe practice earthquake safety and preparedness, takes place on the third Thursday of October each year.

During the Shake-Out on Oct. 15, which is sponsored by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Californians, including residents of Santa Clarita, are encouraged to create and conduct earthquake drills from wherever they may be to be better prepared for major earthquakes that may occur locally.

“As with any year, you can Shake-Out when and where you want, whether that’s at home, work, school, or perhaps through a video conference with people working or taking classes from home,” read a statement on the Shake-Out website. “We can and should still practice how to be safe when the earth shakes, especially when your situation changes.”

Shake-Out Day, which began in Southern California in 2008, has registered over 2 million participants for its 2020 event in Los Angeles County. The majority of the participants were K-12 schools and districts, colleges and universities as well as local governments.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department, which has been involved in Shake-Outs in the past, has identified Southern California as part of “earthquake country”. In a news conference in 2019, LA County Fire Chief Osby emphasized earthquake preparedness, calling recent earthquakes “a reminder that all of us need to prepare in advance for emergencies”.

The City of Santa Clarita has sent out a notification encouraging residents to participate in the shakeout. In the notification, the city emphasized following the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” procedure during an earthquake.

The procedure is endorsed by federal, state and local emergency management experts and preparedness organizations, according to Shake-Out officials. According to the procedure, people experiencing an earthquake are encouraged to drop onto their hands and knees to help them stay balanced and remain low to crawl to shelter.

Then, they should cover their necks with one arm and hand and crawl either under a sturdy table or next to an interior wall that is situated away from windows, bending over to protect their internal organs.

Finally, people caught in an earthquake should hold onto their shelters with one hand, moving with it if it shifts. If no shelter is available, it is best for people following the procedure to hold onto their heads and necks with both arms and hands.

The city also encouraged residents to prepare and secure their spaces, make individualized plans for steps to take during an earthquake, organize supplies, reduce financial strain and to stay informed.

To learn more about the Shake-Out, click here. For Santa Clarita emergency notifications via email, fill out this form. For text notifications, text SCEMERGENCY to 888777. Santa Clarita’s emergency blog can be accessed here.


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Annual California Shake-Out Day To Take Place This Month

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About Zena Taher

Zena Taher moved to Santa Clarita when she was 12 years old. She has always been a voracious reader, which led her to take an interest in writing professionally. She graduated College of the Canyons in 2021 with a double major in journalism and communications and is currently attending California State University Northridge.