Around 10:15 a.m. today, smartphones across California will buzz and howl with a test earthquake warning to remind people of the Drop, cover and hold on protocol.
California is earthquake country where it is not a matter of if the Big One will strike but rather when.
Annual Drill Triggers Statewide Alert
The annual Great California ShakeOut drill begins at 10:15 a.m. to practice how to be safe and evacuate in an earthquake. Organizers state that it is always good to get a reminder to stay on top of readiness by having an emergency plan and keeping supplies fresh. The event involves local, regional, statewide, national and international organizations alongside emergency response demonstrations. Participants are encouraged to download the MyShake app to ensure they get an early warning about a big earthquake.
Hayward Hosts Regional Event With Simulator
The City of Hayward hosts a special regional Great California Shakeout event featuring the Big Shaker earthquake simulator at the Hayward City Hall Plaza. The City of Hayward will host a special regional Great California Shakeout event from 6 a.m. until 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, in partnership with the Statewide California Earthquake Center, Earthquake Country Alliance and the California Office of Emergency Services. The event, taking place on Hayward City Hall Plaza, 777 B Street, will feature the Big Shaker earthquake simulator, an earthquake preparedness fair involving local, regional, statewide, national and international organizations, emergency response demonstrations, and the annual Great ShakeOut drill beginning at 10:15 a.m. to practice how to be safe and evacuate in an earthquake. For more information on AC Alert, CERT and other emergency preparation and safety initiatives of the Hayward Fire Department, visit HFD’s Disaster Preparedness Page on the City of Hayward website. If you or your organization would like more information about the 2026 Great California ShakeOut event in Hayward, please contact Community Partnerships Manager Zach Ebadi at (510) 583-3911 or [email protected].
Experts Urge Shift From Awareness to Infrastructure
Why awareness alone is insufficient given that it is a matter of when, not if, the Big One strikes. Key players like the Statewide California Earthquake Center and local fire departments lead preparedness efforts. Numbers show widespread participation but highlight the gap between testing drills and physical building upgrades. Actionable strategies for communities to move beyond awareness campaigns toward tangible infrastructure hardening include retrofitting vulnerable structures, enforcing updated building codes, and investing in lifeline systems such as water, power, and transportation networks. What comes next as officials push for permanent structural resilience rather than just annual readiness.
Community Engagement Drives Voter Participation
While the Great California ShakeOut focuses on seismic safety, a parallel civic engagement effort is underway this weekend across San Diego County. The No Kings protest movement has announced demonstrations scheduled for Saturday, with organizers stating that this round of protests will focus on telling members of the public to vote early in the upcoming November election.
According to organizers, smaller events in different locations will better help engage and register voters compared to previous demonstration weekends. Participants are encouraged to bring signs, water, their ballots, a blanket or chair, and a friend for the 10 a.m. event. Specific gathering spots include the Alpine Library ballot box at 1271 Tavern Road in Alpine, CA, and Balboa Park – North Laurel Lawn in San Diego.
The demonstrations will feature community drag performances, voter resource tables, a mini march, live music, face painting, and sidewalk chalk activities. At Scripps Poway Parkway, the demonstration will include mock-ballot voting booths for kids. Participants are encouraged to bring costumes and their ballots to these locations. In Fallbrook, attendees should not bring partisan signs since the march ends at a voting location.
Voter registration deadlines remain strict; people planning to vote in that election in California must be registered to vote by Oct. 19. The event will include voter registration and a mutual aid drive. Locations such as Parkway Plaza in El Cajon and Ocean Beach Gateway in San Diego will host these activities, encouraging participants to bring signs about why voting matters to them and the issues affecting their community.
Resources for Deepening Preparedness
For those seeking further information on AC Alert, CERT, and other emergency preparation and safety initiatives of the Hayward Fire Department, visitors are directed to HFD’s Disaster Preparedness Page on the City of Hayward website. This resource serves as a central hub for understanding how to maintain readiness beyond the annual drill.
If you or your organization would like more information about the 2026 Great California ShakeOut event in Hayward, please contact Community Partnerships Manager Zach Ebadi at (510) 583-3911 or [email protected]. Staff members are available to assist with inquiries regarding participation and safety protocols.
To ensure you get an early warning about a big earthquake during the actual event, participants are encouraged to download the MyShake app. Users should tell a friend to download it as well, ensuring that their network has access to alerts. Additionally, people can check out the U.S. Geological Survey site for information on recent quakes and much more. Listening to LAist’s The Big One podcast is also recommended to learn how an earthquake could play out in Southern California and what individuals can do about it.
During the drill, smartphones across California will buzz and howl with a test earthquake warning around 10:15 a.m. Users should not be alarmed by this signal but must take it as a cue to check their readiness level. It is always good to get a reminder to stay on top of readiness by having an emergency plan and keeping supplies fresh.
The event involves local, regional, statewide, national and international organizations alongside emergency response demonstrations. Participants are encouraged to get to know their neighbors and practice the Drop, cover and hold on protocol to ensure safety if they feel the ground shaking or receive a real warning.
Sources
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- Here's where you can join a ‘No Kings’ protest this weekend
- Today is the Great California Shake Out for earthquake readiness. What to know
Photo: Mercurywoodrose (CC BY-SA 3.0)
