Following FEMA’s “National Preparedness Month” in September, individuals and communities throughout Clallam County will participate in the Great Clallam County ShakeOut earthquake drill in October.

Held each year on the third Thursday of October, the International ShakeOut Day is set for Thursday, Oct. 20.

The Clallam County Emergency Management staff’s mission is “to help every citizen of Clallam County know what to do in an earthquake, and to be prepared for extended periods of limited resources like food, water, and power.”

In conjunction with the Great Clallam County ShakeOut, the county-wide All Hazard Alert Broadcast (AHAB) sirens will be tested at 10:20 a.m. on Oct. 20, using the actual siren wail sound.

The ShakeOut is free and open-to-the-public, and participants include individuals, schools, businesses, local and state government agencies, and many other groups.

To take part in the ShakeOut, individuals and organizations are asked to join the drill by registering to participate ShakeOut.org.

Once registered, participants receive regular information on how to plan their drill and become better prepared for earthquakes and other disasters.

During the self-led drill, participants practice how to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”

Endorsed by emergency officials and first responders, the safe response to an earthquake is to:

Drop where you are, onto your hands and knees; this position protects you from being knocked down and also allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter if nearby

Cover your head and neck with one arm and hand

• If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter

• If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows)

• Stay on your knees; bend over to protect vital organs

Hold on until shaking stops

• Under shelter: hold on to it with one hand; be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts

• No shelter: hold on to your head and neck with both arms and hands.

About the ShakeOut

As of last week, about 1 million people are registered to participate in this statewide event, organizers said. However, Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills will also occur throughout the nation and in several countries worldwide.

More than 35 million people around the globe are expected to participate, and in addition to safety drills, many participants take extra steps to become more prepared for earthquakes or other disasters.

The Great Clallam County ShakeOut is coordinated by Clallam County, Washington State, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey and dozens of other partners.

ShakeOut is coordinated globally by the Southern California Earthquake Center at the University of Southern California.