The Great ShakeOut Drill

The Great ShakeOut is the world's largest earthquake preparation drill, with millions of participants practicing across the United States. Because California has a long history of seismic activity, residents are constantly preparing for the next major earthquake. 

The first Great ShakeOut took place on Nov. 13, 2008, in preparation for the ‘Big One.’ An article by the LA Times highlights this, underlining that the drill was based on a scientific magnitude 7.8 earthquake scenario along the San Andreas Fault. The last major earthquake along the fault line was the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which severely damaged major infrastructure. With seismic activity ramping up in the 2000s, scientists organized the ShakeOut.

The drill began Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, at 10:15 a.m. During phase one, students listened to classroom announcements and instructions. During the drill, students went under their seats and desks to protect themselves from falling objects. The drill emphasized covering their necks as much as possible to prevent grave injury. Once the announcements had confirmed it was safe, phase two began. Everyone left their classrooms and headed towards the P.E. area. Students were instructed to report with their 4th period class and teacher at the basketball and tennis courts to ensure all students were accounted for and safe. The drill ended around 10:45 a.m., and students returned to their classes.

Students and faculty at Mayfair and other schools across California took the drill seriously. The Great ShakeOut offers a great opportunity for students and their peers to practice safety procedures in case of a major earthquake.

Image Courtesy of Tricia Diocampo and Carlos Dominguez.

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