The American Red Cross of Northern Nevada encourages residents across the state to participate in the Great Nevada ShakeOut on Thursday, October 16.
The annual statewide earthquake drill gives people an opportunity to practice how to respond during an earthquake and prepare for emergencies. The drill will take place across Nevada at 10:16 a.m. today.
During the ShakeOut, participants will pause their daily activities and practice the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” method, dropping to the ground, taking cover under a sturdy piece of furniture, and holding on until the shaking stops. These steps have been shown to reduce injuries and save lives during earthquakes.
“Nevada is one of the most seismically active states in the country,” said Bridget Posson, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Northern Nevada Chapter. “By joining the Great Nevada ShakeOut, families, schools, and businesses can build the confidence and awareness needed to stay safe when an earthquake strikes.”
Thousands of students in the Washoe County School District will also take part in the annual drill this month.
Each school is holding its own ShakeOut exercise on different dates and times in October. During the drills, students will practice earthquake procedures by taking cover under desks after an emergency announcement and then evacuating classrooms once cleared.
The University of Nevada, Reno has also released its 2025 Earthquake Experts Guide ahead of International ShakeOut Day. The guide features subject matter experts who can speak on earthquake preparedness, warning systems, infrastructure resilience, and public safety.
Residents can register for the Great Nevada ShakeOut at ShakeOut.org/Nevada. After registering, the Red Cross recommends visiting RedCross.org/Earthquake for more information on how to prepare homes and families for emergencies.
The Red Cross also encourages Nevadans to take additional steps to stay safe, such as securing heavy furniture and objects that could fall during strong shaking, building an emergency kit with essentials for at least three days, creating a family communication plan, and learning how to turn off utilities safely.
The Great Nevada ShakeOut began in 2010, when Nevada became the second state to join the national preparedness effort. The state ranks among the top three most seismically active in the country, along with California and Alaska.
In 2024, nearly 650,000 Nevadans participated in the drill, joining almost 20 million people across the United States.
