Great ShakeOut earthquake drill is Oct. 15 at 10:15 a.m. local time: practice Drop, Cover and Hold On

This is a drill, not an alert. On Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, at 10:15 a.m. local time, FEMA will join the Great ShakeOut earthquake drills and is encouraging people nationwide to practice “Drop, Cover and Hold On.” Taking part is free, and families, schools, workplaces and community groups can all join in.

How to do it: DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees. COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand; if a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl under it, or crawl next to an interior wall away from windows, stay on your knees and bend forward. HOLD ON to your shelter with one hand, and keep covering your head and neck until the shaking stops.

Why it matters: Earthquakes can’t be predicted, and they aren’t limited to places known as high-risk. FEMA says the drill is also a good time to secure heavy furniture, review your emergency communication plan, and build or update a supply kit.

This year FEMA’s participation is led by its Building Science and Planning Division with the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), and the drill kicks off NEHRP’s 50th anniversary.

Sign up and learn more: Register your household, school or workplace at https://www.shakeout.org/register . Earthquake safety, preparedness and recovery tips: https://www.ready.gov/earthquakes . FEMA says you can text SHAKEOUT to 43362 for drill reminders and updates.

This is a Notice Nearby publisher-desk brief based on a FEMA email sent to publisher@noticenearby.com on Oct. 5, 2026. It is not a legal notice and not Legal Publication. Photo: Oregon Department of Transportation employees begin the Great ShakeOut drill on Oct. 17, 2019, by the Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized).