Be prepared, be ready for the Great Shakeout Drill

SEATTLE - "Drop, cover and hold on!" At 10:16 a.m. Thursday millions of people across the U.S. will jump out of their seats and get under desks, tables, stand in door arches. No, this is not the latest yoga fitness craze. It's part of the Great Shakeout Earthquake Drills. Billed as the largest earthquake drill in the world, the drills are an annual opportunity for everyone, student and adults, to practice what do do during an earthquake.

Students in Seattle and Tacoma will participate in the drills, as schools throughout the Seattle district have undergone seismic upgrades and building remodels, Seattle Public Schools said in a news release. Schools regularly do drills and have emergency management plans in place, the Seattle district reported.

The Tacoma Fire Department encourages everyone to participate. "The goal of the drill is to prevent a major earthquake from becoming a catastrophe for you, your organization and your community...you may only have seconds to protect yourself in an earthquake before strong shaking knocks you down, or something falls on you."

For more information, and to register for the Great Washington ShakeOut, visit: http://shakeout.org/washington/