Millions of people across California will participate in the Great California ShakeOut on Thursday, Oct. 17, a day dedicated to practicing earthquake safety.

You really don’t know when there’s going to be another significantly damaging earthquake, but we know it’s going to happen.”

Californians are encouraged to participate in the Great California ShakeOut drill on October 17th at 10:17 a.m. to practice how to Drop, Cover and Hold On.

Riders on BART trains at 10:17 a.m. Thursday will have an earthquake drill headed their way. BART will participate in the 2024 International ShakeOut Day earthquake drill, testing the transit agency’s emergency response systems and helping raise public awareness of the importance of having a plan and being prepared.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management in partnership with several key organizations including nearly 38,000 neighbors are scheduled to participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut on Thursday.

According to ShakeOut.org, the objective is to emphasize precautions during a 7.8-magnitude or larger quake along the southernmost portion of the San Andreas fault.

The technology works with an early-detection earthquake warning system, the ShakeAlert. Managed by the U.S. Geological Survey, the early-warning system instantly notifies Metrolink when an earthquake is detected. Within seconds of the system sensing shaking, train conductors are told the magnitude of the earthquake.

At 10:17 a.m., millions will participate in earthquake drills at work, school, or home during The Great California Shakeout.

The drill will happen at 10:17 a.m. Thursday, and nearly 1 million people in San Diego County will participate.