Great Shake Out: Millions of Californians to participate in annual earthquake drill

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) — Millions of people across California will come together for an annual earthquake drill on Thursday morning.

The Great California Shakeout happens every year on the third Thursday of October and is meant to make sure we’re all ready for when “the big one” hits.

Experts say to remember these three simple steps: drop, cover and hold on.

If you have the”MyShake” earthquake early warning app, you will receive an alert at 10:16 a.m. At the same time, BART trains will automatically slow down to 27 miles per hour before coming to a brief stop.

ABC7 News reporter Zach Fuentes got to experience what a 7.0 earthquake felt like in a simulator, where he was thrown to the ground along with books flying off shelves.

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Preparing for a serious earthquake extends beyond the drill.

We should all have a kit with critical supplies to keep our families safe in the immediate hours and days after a disaster strikes.

Find more information on what to put in your kit, or what to do in case of a major earthquake here.