Drop, cover, hold on! Great Hawaiʻi Shake Out for earthquake preparedness is Oct. 20

Three simple steps — drop, cover and hold on — can help save lives and prevent injuries in the case of an earthquake.

Hawai‘i will have a chance to practice them during the Great Hawaiʻi Shake Out on Thursday at 10:20 a.m. There’s still time to register for the event.

Earthquakes are one of many hazards that can affect Hawaiʻi. A 5.0 temblor last week near Pāhala on the Big Island was a reminder that people should know what to do in an earthquake and to be prepared for tsunami hazards.

While the volcanoes on the Big Island produce hundreds of small tremors, the seismic activity can also produce large quakes that are capable of causing damage statewide.

The international earthquake preparedness drill aims to raise awareness of earthquake safety, encouraging everyone to practice the three safety steps during a simulated earthquake at their workplace, school or home. For people in wheelchairs, itʻs lock, cover and hold on.

The drill is held simultaneously across each time zone, and the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency invites everyone in Hawai‘i to join in. More than 24,000 people have signed up so far.

“We may only have seconds to protect ourselves when an earthquake happens,” said Luke Meyers, administrator of the state Emergency Management Agency. “Much of the danger comes from debris and falling objects, not the shaking of the earthquake alone. Practicing how to respond when a quake strike helps us stay safe.”

For more information and to register to participate, visit https://www.shakeout.org/hawaii/index.html.