[Archived] Office of Emergency Management Encourages Participation in Annual Earthquake Drill

For Immediate Release: October 4, 2019

Alexandria’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) encourages the community to participate in this year’s Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill at 10:17 a.m. on Thursday, October 17.

Federal, state and local emergency management experts and other official preparedness organizations all agree that “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. The Great ShakeOut is an opportunity to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes.

Everyone everywhere should practice earthquake safety. In most situations, you will reduce your chance of injury if you:

DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter if nearby.
COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall, away from windows. Stay on your knees; bend over to protect vital organs.
HOLD ON until shaking stops. If you’re under shelter, hold on to it with one hand, and be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts. If you’re not under shelter, hold to your head and neck with both arms and hands

To participate in the international Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill, register your business, department, or family today and spread the word to remind others to be prepared. While the event occurs on October 17, everyone is encouraged to drill and practice earthquake safety on any day.

Follow and tag @AlexandriaVAOEM and use #GreatShakeOut to share your earthquake preparedness stories and photos with us when you participate in this year’s Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill.

For additional information on preparing for an earthquake, visit Alexandria’s Earthquake Preparedness webpage. To receive emergency notifications by text or email, subscribe to the City’s free Alexandria eNews service at alexandriava.gov/eNews.

For media inquiries, contact Raytevia Evans, Public Information Officer, at raytevia.evans@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5190.