The Great ShakeOut drill is Thursday, October 15 at 10:15am, 9 days away. Millions practice Drop, Cover and Hold On at the same minute. Register at shakeout.org, or drill any day that works.
When it shakes: Drop, Cover, Hold On
- Drop to your hands and knees.
- Cover your head and neck, under a sturdy table or desk if one is close.
- Hold On until the shaking stops.
Get a warning seconds before it hits
- MyShake app: free for iPhone and Android, from the State and UC Berkeley. It warns of quakes of magnitude 4.5 or higher where weak shaking or more is expected. Allow location access so the warning reaches you where you are.
- Android phones have Android Earthquake Alerts built in; check that it's turned on in settings.
- Wireless Emergency Alerts also go out to phones for bigger quakes, no app needed.
Source: Earthquake Warning California, Get Alerts.
Know your address
Our home hazard check reads the State's earthquake fault zone map and the tsunami hazard map for your address, plus flood and fire. On the coast, if you feel a long or strong quake, move inland or uphill.
Ready kit, short version
- Water, a few days of medications, a flashlight and a charged battery pack.
- Shoes by the bed, and a plan for where the family meets.
- The same kit covers power outages and El Niño storms.
Setting up MyShake or the alerts on a parent's phone? Text PJ and he'll do it with you. More: help for seniors.
Sources: Great California ShakeOut · California Department of Education · Earthquake Warning California · Cal OES. Checked October 6, 2026.
Watch: If You're Near a Sturdy Desk or Table
Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills, 1:18. Plays from YouTube when you tap it.
Need a human?
This page is built every morning from public data by SideGuy, run by PJ, a local in Solana Beach. If something looks off, or you want a hand with your plans, text PJ at 858-461-8054. A real person answers.
Local help, free to read: make your fix plan · senior benefits checkup · lower your SDG&E bill · Medicare Extra Help · the next 90 days. Plans start as low as $25.
Questions people ask
When is the Great ShakeOut 2026?
Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 10:15am. Register at shakeout.org; you can also hold your drill on another day.
What is the MyShake app?
A free iPhone and Android app from the State of California and UC Berkeley that warns of earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or higher where weak shaking or more is expected, seconds before it arrives.
Do I need an app to get earthquake warnings in California?
Not for every alert: Android phones have Android Earthquake Alerts built in, and Wireless Emergency Alerts go to phones for bigger quakes. MyShake adds warnings for smaller ones.
What should I do in an earthquake?
Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck (under a sturdy table if close), and hold on until the shaking stops.
Know someone who needs this?
Something changed here? Text PJ and we'll update this page.
More free local tools: the North County toolkit.