North Little Rock, AR – (Contributed) – The annual International ShakeOut Day will take place on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 10:16 a.m., when millions of people around the world will pause to practice what to do during an earthquake.

At home, work, or school, participants will follow the essential drill: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. The goal of the ShakeOut is to promote earthquake preparedness and ensure communities know how to respond quickly and safely when the ground starts to shake.

This year, more than 24,000 Arkansans have already registered to take part, joining 1.4 million people in the Central United States region and over 16.3 million participants worldwide. In 2024, more than 2.2 million people across the Central U.S. participated in the ShakeOut, making it one of the largest disaster preparedness exercises in the country.

Participants are encouraged to take the drill further by reviewing emergency plans, checking emergency supply kits, and securing items in their homes and workplaces that could fall and cause injury during an earthquake. Families, schools, businesses, and organizations can all benefit from using ShakeOut as a reminder to prepare.

Arkansas has experienced several earthquakes this year, many of which are located along the New Madrid Fault Line. This fault line has a significant chance of producing an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 or higher.

Such an event would be catastrophic for communities situated near the fault line. Therefore, it is crucial for residents, especially in East and Central Arkansas, to have an earthquake emergency plan in place and to know how to protect themselves in the event of a major earthquake.

The ShakeOut is free and open to everyone. Individuals, schools, and organizations can register here to be counted among this year’s participants and to access preparedness resources.

For more information and tips on how to successfully participate in an earthquake drill, click here.

For more in-depth information on the seismic activity happening in the state, visit the Arkansas Office of the State Geologist here.