The Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill is an annual drill in which millions of people practice how to protect themselves during an earthquake. Coordinated through ShakeOut.org with the Earthquake Country Alliance and regional partners, it takes place on International ShakeOut Day, the third Thursday of October, when participants practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On at the same time.
For employers, ShakeOut is a simple, low-cost way to test an emergency action plan. Even in areas with low earthquake risk, the drill builds the habit of responding quickly to a sudden emergency and gives supervisors a chance to check how well people know the plan.
When Is the Great ShakeOut in 2027?
ShakeOut is held every third Thursday of October. Following that pattern, the 2027 drill falls on Thursday, October 21, 2027. In 2026, all regions participated on October 15 unless a region specified otherwise. Confirm the official date for your region on ShakeOut.org, since some regions occasionally hold their drill on a different day.
Organizations do not have to drill on the official day. ShakeOut lets participants register a drill for any day of the year and hold it at a time that works for their schedule, which helps facilities with shift work or seasonal peaks.
Why It Matters at Work
Earthquakes strike without warning, and preparedness guidance stresses that falling and flying objects are a major source of injury, especially for people who try to move during the shaking. In a workplace, the hazards include tall shelving and racking, unsecured equipment, overhead lights and ductwork, glass, and hazardous materials that could spill or react.
The right response is not instinctive. Many people try to run outside or stand in a doorway, which can expose them to falling debris. A drill replaces those instincts with a practiced response and shows where the plan has gaps: unsecured storage, people who do not know the assembly point, or crews who cannot be accounted for quickly.
The same drill also tests the broader emergency action plan: how alarms are raised, how evacuation is coordinated once shaking stops, and how people are counted. Those steps apply to fires, chemical releases and severe weather as well.
How to Take Part
Practical ideas for a workplace or fleet:
- Register your organization. Registering on ShakeOut.org counts your participants, and the site offers drill guidance and resources for each region.
- Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On. At the drill time, everyone drops to hands and knees, covers head and neck under a sturdy table or desk or next to an interior wall, and holds on until the shaking stops.
- Add an evacuation step. After the shaking scenario ends, practice a post-earthquake evacuation, check for hazards on the way out and account for everyone at the assembly point.
- Do a nonstructural hazard hunt. Walk the site looking for unanchored shelving, heavy items stored high, unsecured cylinders and equipment that could tip.
- Include drivers and field crews. Brief drivers to pull over in a clear area away from overpasses, bridges, power lines and buildings, set the parking brake and stay inside the vehicle until the shaking stops.
- Check supplies and contacts. Review first aid kits, flashlights, water and emergency contact lists, and test how you would reach employees if phone networks are overloaded.
Toolbox Talk: Drop, Cover, and Hold On
Read this 5-minute talk before your ShakeOut drill.
- Drop where you are. Get down on your hands and knees before the shaking knocks you down. This position protects you and still lets you move to shelter.
- Cover your head and neck. Get under a sturdy table or desk if one is close. If not, get next to an interior wall away from windows and tall furniture, and cover your head and neck with your arms.
- Hold on until the shaking stops. Hold onto your shelter and be ready to move with it. Do not run outside during shaking.
- If you are operating equipment, stop safely if you can do so without exposing yourself, move away from racking, machinery and anything that could fall, and protect your head.
- After the shaking, expect aftershocks. Check yourself and others for injuries, look for hazards such as spills, gas smells and damaged wiring, and follow the evacuation plan to the assembly point.
Discussion question: If an earthquake hit while you were at your usual work spot, where is the nearest safe place to drop and cover, and what nearby could fall on you?
Related Requirements
OSHA does not have a standard specific to earthquakes, but its exit routes and emergency action plan requirements apply. When another OSHA standard requires an emergency action plan, 29 CFR 1910.38 sets out what it must cover, including procedures for reporting emergencies, evacuation routes and procedures, accounting for employees after evacuation and the employees who perform rescue or medical duties. Employers with more than 10 employees must keep the plan in writing, and employers must review the plan with each employee covered by it. OSHA's emergency action plan eTool explains how to tailor a plan to your worksite and the different emergencies it may face.
How SMS360 Helps
A drill only helps if the plan behind it is current and easy to find. The SMS360 Document Library keeps your emergency action plan, evacuation maps, drill scenarios and contact lists in one place so everyone works from the same copy, with mobile access so supervisors can pull up the plan at the assembly point. You can also schedule and track emergency response training, record drill results and observations, and assign corrective actions for hazards found during the drill, such as shelving that needs anchoring.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Great ShakeOut 2027?
ShakeOut is held on the third Thursday of October, which in 2027 is October 21. Check ShakeOut.org for your region's confirmed date. Organizations can also register a drill on any other day of the year.
What is Drop, Cover, and Hold On?
It is the recommended action to take during earthquake shaking in most situations. Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck, ideally under a sturdy table or desk, and hold on until the shaking stops.
Can a business participate in ShakeOut?
Yes. Businesses, schools, government agencies and households can all register on ShakeOut.org. Workplaces often combine the drill with an evacuation and headcount to test their full emergency action plan.
