At 10:15 a.m. today, October 15, people across Washington are invited to take part in the Great Washington ShakeOut, an annual earthquake drill that connects local participants with millions of people practicing around the world. Pierce County is encouraging residents, businesses, schools and community groups to join in from wherever they are.
The main exercise takes about a minute: drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on until the shaking stops. If there’s no table nearby, protect your head and neck with your arms and move away from windows. The goal is to practice a response that can be used at home, at work or in a classroom.
Some people may also hear emergency alert tests. The National Weather Service plans to send a required test message through radio and television, and NOAA weather radios will sound. More than 120 tsunami sirens along Washington’s inner and outer coasts are also scheduled to use the wailing tone of a tsunami warning, rather than the chimes heard during routine monthly tests.
The alerts won’t all come through the same channel. The Wireless Emergency Alert text system on cellphones will not be tested, but people who use the MyShake app may receive a drill alert. Pierce County’s lahar sirens will not be part of Thursday’s test.
In Tacoma, Parks Tacoma plans drills at Eastside, People’s, STAR and Center at Norpoint community centers, as well as its headquarters and Fort Nisqually. Staff will practice “Drop, Cover and Hold On,” then evacuate the facilities, except at Norpoint. Classes and activities scheduled for 10:15 may be interrupted.
You don’t need to register to participate. If you’re able, take a minute at 10:15 to practice where you are—and consider using the drill to start a conversation with family, coworkers or neighbors about how you’d check in and help each other after a major earthquake.
Discover more of Tacoma in today’s Tacoma Local Minute. Catch the rest of today’s local news, events, and updates in the full issue here.