Venice, Mar Vista Participating In 'Great California ShakeOut of 2023'

VENICE-MAR VISTA, CA — Venice and Mar Vista residents and people throughout Los Angeles County will "drop, cover and hold on" Thursday as a part of the 2023 Great ShakeOut earthquake preparedness drill.

Now in its 15th year, the drill encourages residents to prepare in advance for the possibility of a large earthquake hitting the area. The likelihood of a 7.0 major earthquake causing serious damage in the Los Angeles area in the next 30 years is 46 percent.

The Greats California Shakeout of 2023 is scheduled for 10:19 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19.

“ShakeOut is a way to increase community resilience at all levels,” said Mark Benthien, Global ShakeOut Coordinator and Outreach Director for the Southern California Earthquake Center (www.SCEC.org) at the University of Southern California. “Earthquakes can be sudden and violent, but if we have taken steps to prepare ourselves, those around us, and the structures we live, work, and study in, we can greatly reduce their effects.”

Throughout LA County, more than 3 million people are expected to participate in the drill including government offices and schools in LA City. Acton Academy Venice Beach was among the participants in this year's challenge.

Millions of people throughout the state of California will also receive a phone alert warning them about a large earthquake in San Francisco as part of a MyShake application test. The test is part of the ShakeOut and will go out to the 2.7 million people who have downloaded the app.

In the event of an earthquake, Californians are advised to drop, cover and hold onto something if indoors; pull over, stop and set the parking brake if driving; turn face down and cover their head with a pillow if in bed; and stay away from buildings if outside.