Community Asked to Join Great Hawai’i ShakeOut

It may be one month away, but it’s never too early to prepare. The Hawai’i Emergency Management is encouraging families, schools, and businesses to take part in the statewide Great Hawai’i ShakeOut earthquake preparedness exercise on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10:15 p.m.

Every year, the internationally recognized event allows participants to practice what to do in the case of an earthquake and improve preparedness by following three simple steps: “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”

The Hawai’i State Department of Education will encourage all schools within its jurisdiction to participate.

In 2008, the ShakeOut began in southern California as a drill designed to educate the public about how to prepare themselves during a large earthquake. The Big Island first participated in the even in 2013 with help from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, Hawai’i Public Charter Schools Network, University of Hawai’i at Hilo, and American Red Cross.

The 2015 event is being conducted with partnerships between HI-EMA and the DOE, along with local emergency management and civil defense agencies, USGS HVO Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, Hawai’i Public Charter Schools Network, University of Hawai’i at Hilo, and American Red Cross.

To learn more, visit the Great Hawai’i ShakeOut website.