More than 390,000 Oregonians took part in a drop, cover, and hold on exercise, Oct. 16 at 10:16 a.m. The Great ShakeOut is a worldwide earthquake drill aimed at helping individuals prepare for an earthquake. Businesses, schools, individuals and state agencies throughout Oregon participated. The event highlighted partnerships in preparedness for major disasters including a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and tsunami as a call to action for businesses in Oregon to get prepared for disasters by strengthening the bond between peers, suppliers, and agency officials. Oregon is located along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 600 mile fault line stretching from British Columbia to California. Experts predict a major 9.0 or higher earthquake could strike our state within the next 50 years. The ShakeOut provided an opportunity for individuals to practice what they would do in an earthquake. K-12 schools and districts as well as local governments, state governments, federal government including military, healthcare, colleges and universities, and many more in Oregon participated in the Great ShakeOut.
