California and Puerto Rico conduct earthquake preparedness drills

Millions of participants in California and Puerto Rico took part in the Great ShakeOut, an annual earthquake drill designed to practice life-saving responses to major seismic events.

In California, approximately 10.7 million students and workers registered for the exercise. Participants practiced the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” method to simulate responses to significant tremors. The drill involved various agencies, including the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the American Red Cross. Regional transit provider Metrolink also participated by activating emergency protocols and testing early warning technology linked to the USGS ShakeAlert platform.

In Puerto Rico, Governor Jenniffer González Colón encouraged families, schools, and government agencies to participate in the drill to improve community readiness. The exercise focused on the same “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” technique and aimed to help residents evaluate emergency plans and identify safe spaces within their homes and workplaces.