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-Press Release, North Carolina Department of Public Safety

The Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill is a worldwide earthquake safety movement involving 17.1 million people throughout 2020 (and counting). Most participate in ShakeOut by registering to practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On,” and many do much more.

Please visit https://www.shakeout.org/southeast/register/ today to register your organization, school, agency, business or family and perform a ‘Drop, Cover, and Hold On’ drill on Thursday, October 15, 2020, at 10:15 a.m., or any date and time that works best for you.

The drill can be completed together in-person or at home via videoconferencing. Once registered you will:

• Learn how your organization, school, agency, business or family can be more prepared for earthquakes.
• Be counted in the world’s largest earthquake drill.
• Receive ShakeOut news and other information about earthquakes and preparedness.
• Make a difference by motivating others to participate and be prepared.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, participants are adapting their ShakeOut activities through videoconferencing, choosing staggered or alternative dates, and following local health and safety guidelines (see ShakeOut.org/covid19).

From Brian Short, director of Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations:

There are three levels of participation in International ShakeOut Day. Level 1 is basic level participation, and that is the level in which the local area will be participating.

NC is subject to earthquakes. Earthquakes do, in fact, occur more frequently than most people realize. It is important for us all to know what to do in the event one should occur in our area.

Unlike the statewide tornado exercise, there will not be any sort of announcement made via radio, TV or otherwise. It is up to each agency or individual to initiate their own participation at the appropriate time.