Millions will hold on for Great Shakeout drill Thursday morning

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Hold on, San Diego. Thursday at 10:15 a.m. nearly 944,000 San Diegans will participate in California’s latest Great Shakeout drill by ducking and covering for an earthquake drill.

Scheduled to run the drill are schools, government agencies, cultural institutions, hotels and other businesses, according to organizers of the event. The total number of participants in the state is over 10.4 million. 

Most San Diegans are said to live within 15 miles of a fault, according to Shakeout organizers. The Rose Canyon fault, which runs beneath downtown and along the coast, is one of the most major. A breach of the fault, officials say, could cause serious damage as no considerable movement has been measured there since before it was settled by Europeans. 

In East County, notable faults include the Elsinore and San Jacinto, however, the entire county is prone to feeling any area earthquake. In 2012, the Easter Sunday quake centered south of Mexicali, a 7.2 magnitude tremble, was felt throughout the county while in 1992 the Landers quake (7.3 magnitude) caused considerable shaking in San Diego despite being centered in the Mojave Desert.

Tomorrow’s shakeout aims remind San Diegans of the protocol officials say could save lives in the event of an earthquake.

It is recommended those who feel a quake take cover under the nearest sturdy table or desk and protect their heads from falling debris. Staying away from windows, overhead fixtures, wall hangings and tall furniture until shaking starts is also highly recommended.

Building collapses are not likely in San Diego, officials say, so running outside is often not the safest option as the outdoors introduce the risk of falling electrical lines, tree branches or building facades.

If you do find yourself outside when a quake strikes, officials recommending moving away from buildings, trees and overhead power lines and dropping while covering your head.