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INTERNATIONAL DAYENVIRONMENT

International Shakeout Day

Every year on the third Thursday of October (October 15 in 2026), millions of people stop what they are doing, drop to the ground, and practice saving their own lives. That is International ShakeOut Day: the world's largest earthquake drill, and a reminder that preparedness is something you practice, not something you postpone.

OCT15
Thursday, October 15Third Thursday in October
 days to go
Roots
The Great Southern California ShakeOut, November 13, 2008; the third Thursday of October was designated International ShakeOut Day in 2009
Hashtag
#InternationalShakeoutDay
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3 ways to celebrate

AT HOME

Drill at home

Register at ShakeOut.org, run the one-minute Drop, Cover, and Hold On drill on October 15, then secure tall furniture and heavy objects.

WITH FRIENDS

Practice with friends

Run the drill together and quiz each other on the seven steps to earthquake safety over snacks.

AT WORK OR SCHOOL

Drill the whole building

Schedule a building-wide drill for October 15: map evacuation routes, check emergency kits, and assign roles for afterward.

Plan ahead

International Shakeout Day is observed on the third Thursday in October. Here is where it lands for the next ten years, handy for planners, marketers and party people.

2026Thu, Oct 15this year
2027Thu, Oct 21
2028Thu, Oct 19
2029Thu, Oct 18
2030Thu, Oct 17
2031Thu, Oct 16
2032Thu, Oct 21
2033Thu, Oct 20
2034Thu, Oct 19
2035Thu, Oct 18
2036Thu, Oct 16

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Fast facts

2016In 2016, more than 55 million people across the United States and 60 other countries took part in Great ShakeOut drills
"Drop, Cover, and Hold On": drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck, hold on until the shaking stops

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