Get Ready to ‘Drop, Cover, and Hold On’: International ShakeOut Day Is Almost Here

Every October, millions of people around the world pause for one minute. Not for a national anthem or a viral challenge, but for a drill that could save lives during the next big earth-rattling natural disaster.

International ShakeOut Day is held every year on the third Thursday of October. An awareness day that encourages individuals, schools, businesses, and communities to practice what to do when the ground shakes. This year, the ShakeOut takes place on Thursday, October 16, 2025, and participation is expected to reach record levels once again.

A Global Safety Movement

The ShakeOut started in California in 2008 as a statewide preparedness event. It was so successful that it quickly spread beyond state and national borders. Today, it is the largest earthquake drill in the world, with millions of participants across more than 60 countries.

The program works through partnerships between governments, schools, emergency services, nonprofit organizations, and community groups. From large urban centers like Tokyo and Los Angeles to smaller towns in South America, people come together to practice at the same time. Some regions coordinate large public drills, while others encourage families to run the exercise at home. Its flexibility is part of what makes it effective. Anyone, anywhere, can take part.