The annual Great California ShakeOut earthquake preparedness drill is set for Thursday, Oct. 18, at 10:18 a.m., and the city of Santa Clarita invites residents to gather at the new Old Town Newhall Library to participate.

Mayor Frank Ferry will be on the air on KHTS-AM 1220 at 10:18 to talk about the event and the importance of our community being ready for a major quake.

“Major earthquakes can happen anywhere in California,” Ferry said. “The ShakeOut drill is an opportunity for community members to practice together on how to be prepared for natural disasters when they happen. The goal of the event is to save lives and prevent disasters from becoming catastrophes.”

Registration for California residents is now open online at ShakeOut.org and all local participants will be entered in a raffle to win one of three earthquake preparedness kits. Last year, more than 12.5 million people registered for ShakeOut drills worldwide.

shakeoutRegionally, students, teachers, business people, government officials, hospital staffs, emergency responders and people in their homes from California, Nevada and Oregon will “Drop, Cover and Hold On” as more than 50 radio stations including KHTS-AM 1220 broadcast detailed instructions about what to do the moment shaking begins.

The Great California ShakeOut is an opportunity for schools, businesses and other organizations to review and update emergency preparedness plans and supplies, as well as secure space in order to prevent damage and injuries. By participating, local residents will learn how to prepare to survive and recover quickly from big earthquakes.

The Great California ShakeOut’s website is packed with relevant links to and information about earthquake safety. The site offers comprehensive information about how individuals, families, businesses, churches, organizations and government agencies can prepare for serious earthquakes, get through them safely, and survive the post-quake period when essential services are likely to be disrupted for days or weeks.

In addition, the website lists more than 30 ShakeOut event venues and many of the 50+ radio and television stations around the state that will carry an actual Drill Broadcast. The Drill Broadcast is a 60-second message leading participants statewide through the recommended “Drop, Cover and Hold On” drill and providing valuable information about other precautionary measures, over earthquake sound effects.

The Great California ShakeOut Drill began in 2008 in Southern California and then quickly spread throughout the state. It now includes participants in Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, British Columbia, Guam and even a group in Asia headquartered in Tajikistan. Last year’s ShakeOut activities in the Los Angeles area were observed by interested groups of police, fire and emergency officials from Mexico, China and Japan.

The ShakeOut highlights public-private partnerships between government, communities and the private sector, with sponsors including Earthquake Country Alliance members, among them the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA), the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC), the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the California Earthquake Authority (CEA), the American Red Cross (ARC), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the California Department of Education and State Farm Insurance.