The earthquake app will go live on California residents' phones Thursday morning. This is why it is (most likely) not an earthquake patriotic

People across California will dive under desks Thursday at 10:16 a.m. PT to take cover.

This is not a prediction of a major earthquake. Rather, it's part of an increasingly popular earthquake preparedness event statewide and internationally.

The Great California Shakeout is a one-minute exercise in which people at more than 9,000 schools, businesses, churches, hospitals and other facilities across the state — representing 10.3 million Californians so far — have signed up to stop what they are doing and pretend a major earthquake is occurring.

They will be told to “Lie down, cover and hold on” and will receive tips and other information on how to stay safe when the next big earthquake strikes.

“It's an important opportunity for everyone, everywhere, once a year to practice earthquake safety to learn what to do and know what to do,” said Mark Benthen, director of public education at the California Statewide Earthquake Center at the University of Southern California.

Millions of people who have the My Shake app on their phones will also receive an alert on Thursday at 10:16 a.m. that the system is being tested.

The massive event, which began in 2008 in Southern California as an emergency simulation of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, was sponsored by the U.S. Geological Survey, California Office of Emergency Services, and other organizations.

Cal OES officials visited various sites around the state throughout the week using their earthquake simulator, a four-seat trailer that recreates earthquake shaking as strong as 7.0.

The simulation appeared Monday on the UC Davis campus, Tuesday at the San Francisco Zoo, Wednesday at Cal State Fullerton, and is scheduled to appear Thursday at the San Diego waterfront.

“California is no stranger to disasters like earthquakes,” Cal OES Director Nancy Ward said in a statement. “It is important that we work with communities statewide to make sure they have the life-saving information they need to stay safe before the next earthquake strikes.”

Benthen and other earthquake experts said that if people were in their homes during an earthquake, they should not run or stand in the doorway. Instead, they should get down on their hands and knees, crawl under a desk or sturdy table, and hold still. If they are in bed, they should stay there and cover their head and neck with a pillow.

“It's about making yourself a smaller target,” he said. “Get on the ground before you fall. Cover your head and neck. Most injuries come from falling or flying objects.”

If you are outside when a large earthquake occurs, move to a clear, open area, away from things that could fall, such as buildings, power lines and trees.

If you are in a vehicle, experts recommend pulling over to the side of the road and remaining in the vehicle until the shaking stops.

An earthquake like the 1906 one in San Francisco can knock out power and water for days or weeks. Experts recommend stocking up on an “earthquake kit” with at least three days' worth of water, food and medicine in preparation.

“We have a lot of experience dealing with earthquakes of magnitude 3, 4 and 5,” Benthen said. “But there is rarely anything higher than a 6. The shaking of larger earthquakes is more intense and lasts longer.”

There is a 72% chance that one or more earthquakes of magnitude 6.7 or larger will occur on any fault in the San Francisco Bay Area, and a 60% chance in Los Angeles, within the next 30 years, the US Geological Survey has found.

For more information about Thursday's event, visit www.shakeout.org/california

©2025 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit mercurynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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