Great ShakeOut: How To Survive An Earthquake

More than 10 million Californians are taking part in Great ShakeOut drills to prepare communities across the state for the next big earthquake.

They are joined by 15 million more in other states and around the world.

There are several hundred known faults in California, including the San Andreas fault, which is extremely active and produces a major earthquake every 100 to 200 years.

Northern California was hit by a magnitude 6.0 quake on 24 August that injured three people and sent panicked residents out onto the streets of Napa and other cities.

To prepare for a possible earthquake:

:: Identify earthquake hazards in your home, and check if you are in a tsunami hazard zone: You should secure anything heavy enough to hurt you if it falls on you.

:: Create a disaster plan: Plan now what each person in your household will do before, during and after an earthquake.

:: Create disaster supplies kits: Everyone should have personal disaster supplies kits, which are useful for many emergencies.

:: Identify and fix your building’s weaknesses: Look for inadequate foundations, unbraced cripple walls, soft first stories and unreinforced masonry.

And when the earthquake hits:

:: DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!),

:: COVER your head and neck with your arms and seek shelter by getting under a sturdy desk or table if nearby; and

:: HOLD ON to your shelter and be prepared to move with it until the shaking stops.

The annual Great ShakeOut drill began in 2008 in California. It has since spread to dozens of US states and other countries, including Italy, Japan and Canada.