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| ShakeOut | |
|---|---|
| Name | ShakeOut |
| Type | Earthquake preparedness drill |
| Date | Annual (varies by region) |
| First | 2008 |
| Location | Global (origin: California, United States) |
| Organizer | Various emergency management agencies |
| Participants | Millions |
ShakeOut
ShakeOut is an annual earthquake preparedness drill designed to improve readiness, resilience, and public awareness for seismic events. Originating in the western United States, it has expanded into a multinational series of exercises coordinated by emergency management agencies, scientific institutions, educational systems, and private-sector partners. The campaign emphasizes coordinated actions, such as "Drop, Cover, and Hold On," community planning, retrofitting, and continuity strategies to reduce casualties and infrastructure damage during earthquakes.
ShakeOut campaigns bring together stakeholders from agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Geological Survey, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, and academic institutions like California Institute of Technology and University of California, Berkeley. Corporate partners have included firms in the utilities, telecommunications, and insurance sectors, while professional organizations—such as the American Red Cross and FEMA Corps—provide logistical support. Municipal entities including the City of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and counties across California and the Pacific Northwest coordinate with transit agencies like Bay Area Rapid Transit and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to exercise response protocols. International collaborators have involved ministries and agencies from countries such as Japan, New Zealand, and Mexico.
The first large-scale drill associated with this name launched in 2008 after years of research by seismologists at institutions like United States Geological Survey and Southern California Earthquake Center, coupled with hazard mitigation advocates in states such as California and Oregon. Early exercises referenced scenarios inspired by historic events like the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the 1964 Alaska earthquake to model urban impacts. Subsequent iterations incorporated lessons from disasters including the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and the 2010 Haiti earthquake, prompting expanded participation by emergency planners at Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, state governors' offices, and international partners such as Geoscience Australia and Japan Meteorological Agency.
Coordination typically occurs through coalitions comprised of state emergency management offices, academic research centers like the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, NGO partners such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and private-sector continuity planners from companies like Pacific Gas and Electric Company and multinational insurers headquartered in London. Schools—ranging from Los Angeles Unified School District to university campuses such as Stanford University—register for tailored drills, while hospitals and healthcare systems including Kaiser Permanente run continuity exercises. Participation spans municipal agencies (police, fire, public works), transit authorities, utilities, ports like Port of Long Beach, and cultural institutions such as museums and libraries.
Typical activities emphasize "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" maneuvers promoted by United States Geological Survey guidance, alongside community-wide communication tests using tools deployed by Federal Communications Commission regulations. Exercises include tabletop simulations informed by seismic hazard models from USGS ShakeMap products, full-scale functional exercises involving California Highway Patrol, mass casualty triage drills with American College of Surgeons affiliates, and business continuity workshops guided by standards from organizations like the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Schools practice evacuation and reunification plans, while utilities run seismic shutoff procedures modeled on systems used by Southern California Edison and water agencies. Many events incorporate public education campaigns featuring partnerships with media outlets based in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Regional variants adapt scenarios to local fault systems such as the San Andreas Fault, Cascadia Subduction Zone, and the Hayward Fault. In the Pacific, exercises align with tsunami warnings coordinated by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration centers and the Japan Meteorological Agency. International versions have been organized by agencies including National Emergency Management Agency (New Zealand), Mexico's Civil Protection authorities, and provincial governments in British Columbia. Exercises in urban centers like Tokyo, Wellington, Mexico City, and Vancouver address region-specific vulnerabilities, including building stock, liquefaction risk, and transportation network interdependencies.
Evaluations reported by agencies such as Federal Emergency Management Agency and research teams at University of California, Los Angeles indicate improvements in public awareness, institutional coordination, and identification of infrastructure weaknesses. After-action reports have led to policy changes at city councils in San Francisco and Los Angeles, retrofitting initiatives supported by state legislatures in California, and enhanced emergency communications adopted by transit agencies including Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York) for cross-jurisdictional lessons. Academic studies published by researchers affiliated with Stanford University and UC Berkeley show measurable increases in household preparedness behaviors and organizational readiness metrics following participation.
Critics from academic and advocacy circles—including commentators associated with Earthquake Engineering Research Institute and civil liberties organizations—note limitations such as uneven participation across socioeconomic groups, logistical constraints for small businesses, and overreliance on voluntary reporting. Challenges cited by municipal planners in Oakland and Sacramento include inadequate funding, interoperability issues among communication systems governed by different agencies, and difficulties translating drill outcomes into sustained policy action at legislative bodies like state legislatures. Other concerns involve accessibility for persons with disabilities and the need for culturally tailored messaging for diverse communities, prompting calls for inclusive planning with organizations such as National Disability Rights Network and community-based nonprofits.
Category:Emergency preparedness events