​(October 12, 2012) The California Chamber of Commerce is urging businesses to learn how to be quake-safe with the rest of California in the largest U.S. drill—October 18 at 10:18 a.m.

Last year more than 12.5 million people were registered in ShakeOut drills worldwide.

The Great California Shakeout, the annual statewide public earthquake drill held each October, is a great opportunity for businesses to learn, get prepared and practice what to do during earthquakes.

For more information on how to protect yourself during an earthquake, visit www.ShakeOut.org/register.

Registered ShakeOut participants will:

• Learn what can be done to get prepared; 
• Get counted in the largest earthquake drill ever; 
• Receive ShakeOut news and other information about earthquakes and preparedness; and 
• Make a difference in the community by motivating others to participate and get prepared.

The first Shakeout drill was held in 2008 with more than 5 million participants throughout Southern California. In 2011, more than 8.6 million people participated. For this year’s drill on Thursday, October 21 at 10:18 a.m., more than 8.8 million have registered to simultaneously “drop, cover, and hold on.”

Partners in organizing the Shakeout include the California Emergency Management Agency, Earthquake Country Alliance, California Department of Education, Southern California Earthquake Center, U.S. Geological Survey, California Earthquake Authority, American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, State Farm Insurance, and others.

Fact sheets, drill manuals and other materials are available on the ShakeOut website; visit www.ShakeOut.org/resources and www.ShakeOut.org/howtoparticipate.