Seismic cosplay: The Great ShakeOut returns!

World's largest earthquake drill returns on Oct. 17, with the intent of helping Oregon residents prepare for 'the big one'

The Great Oregon ShakeOut earthquake is designed to help Oregonians plan for those dreaded 30 seconds when shelves spew their contents and roads open up to swallow cars whole.

The world's largest earthquake drill is Oct. 17 at 10:17 a.m., and more than 600,000 Oregonians are already registered.

According to the Office of Emergency Management, which organizes the drill, in 1993, western Oregon experienced two damaging earthquakes, Scotts Mills (magnitude 5.6) and Klamath Falls (magnitudes 5.9 and 6). Molalla High School and the State Capitol building were severely damaged.

In addition to those crustal fault earthquakes, there is evidence that a massive subduction zone earthquake will happen off the coast from Northern California to British Columbia with force similar to that which hit Indonesia in 2004, and Japan in 2011, during subduction zone earthquakes and tsunamis.

The OEM says that by preparing now for future earthquakes, Oregonians can protect their homes and families.

Great ShakeOut earthquake drills are an opportunity to practice how to be safer during earthquakes by knowing how to "Drop, Cover and Hold On." ShakeOut organizers say that to react quickly, you must practice often. "You may only have seconds to protect yourself in an earthquake before strong shaking knocks you down or drops something on you."

Resources:

For more information about earthquakes in Oregon, go to: oregon.gov

Video on what to do during an earthquake, Go to: YouTube.com

Oregon Office of Emergency Management

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone: 503-383-6608